National Gallery of Art - PLAN A VISIT

Renovation Information

The East and West Buildings of the National Gallery of Art are recognized as great works of architecture and are considered national treasures. They house important collections of art and present them in a safe and welcoming environment to the American public and to visitors from around the world. To maintain the buildings and infrastructure at optimal efficiency, the Gallery has implemented an ongoing, long-term program of repair, restoration, and renovation.

Exterior Renovations

The planned removal and reinstallation of the marble veneer of the 33-year-old East Building of the National Gallery of Art will begin in early March 2011; the project is expected to be completed by spring 2014. While the East Building will remain open to the public during the entire period, the project will necessitate the following developments:

  • The north parking lane of Madison Drive between 3rd and 4th Streets NW will be closed to all vehicles, effective January 28, 2011.

  • The sidewalks along Madison Drive and Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 3rd and 4th Streets will be closed to all pedestrians, effective immediately. The sidewalks along 3rd and 4th Streets between Pennsylvania Avenue and Madison Drive will remain open.

  • Some of the Yoshino cherry (Prunus x yedoensis) and willow oak (Quercus phellos) trees on the east and south sides of the East Building are being moved to an off-site nursery for the duration of the project. Others will be replaced with trees of the same size and quality upon completion of the project.

Instead of conventional or fixed scaffolding over the entire building, a more open, vertical-access system will be employed for the removal and reinstallation of some 16,200 Tennessee pink marble panels with new supports. Each three-inch-thick panel weighs approximately 450 pounds and typically measures five feet wide by two feet high. When the repair project is complete, the East Building and its landscaping will be restored to their original appearance.

For specific information, e-mail the Gallery at DEA-INFO@NGA.GOV, telephone (202) 842-6179, or inquire at the Information Desks.

Updated 7/27/2012