In October 2022, the Secretary of Navy (SECNAV) announced a competition for a new navy museum. The secretary stated the preferred location as well. The expectation was to explore new artistic ideas for the new museum. After months of designing stages, the SECNAV unveiled the finalists of the competition. According to the statement, there are five eye-catching designs for the new Navy Museum. The finalists of the competition are: Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), Frank Gehry Partners, Perkins & Will, DLR Group, and Quinn Evans.
The competition has been seeking ideas and concepts for the Navy Museum project. Since December, over 80 companies and individuals have participated in the competition. The participants developed their unique designs, including a museum entrance, a ceremonial courtyard, and an atrium. They also incorporated some of the Navy’s larger artifacts, such as a Swiftboat, a Corsair aircraft, and the sail of a submarine.
The Navy plans a new Navy museum that will have greater public access. The project will include both a new building and the renovation of the existing historical buildings. The project will include approximately 270,000 square feet of campus with 100,000 square feet of gallery space.
The Concept of the Bjarke Ingels Group
BIG developed the new concept of the Navy Museum in collaboration with Olin Studio and Squint/Opera. The new concept has large vitrines opening the museum to the street. These vitrines will offer passersby a check-in to the museum.
Navy Museum Concept by Gehry Partners
Gehry Partners is a Washington-based architecture company. The company is also the designer of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial in Washington. Gehry’s concept is made of glass and looks like a majestic building.
DLR Group
The president of the DLR Group announced the concept of a Navy Museum on their website. Their aim is to engage people with the museum. The concept offers a Navy experience by bringing Navy service to life.
Perkins & Will Navy Museum Design
Perkins & Will created a concept consisting of a giant glass façade with wings. The building looks like a sailing ship.
Quinn Evans
Quinn Evans is the leader of architecture companies in historic preservation. The company’s design for the navy museum has not been finalized. But the building has a giant glass façade with an angle.