Building Basics
This is the platform created at the start of a building project which ensures the structure's stability, and that the load is spread across the ground.
What is a foundation?
This American architect is known for “organic architecture” and designed Fallingwater and the Guggenheim Museum.
Who is Frank LLoyd Wright?
This is name of the engineer who was appointed in 1791 by President George Washington to plan the new 'Federal City,' now known as Washington, D.C.
Pierre L'Enfant
This is the material which comprises the 1,200-foot-long frieze along the exterior of the building, serving as DC's Civil War Memorial.
What is terra cotta?
This massive, open space is often used for events, installations, and even indoor mini-golf.
What is the Great Hall?
This architectural accessory can be bulls-eye, bow, bay and even more.
What is a window?
This architect, known for designing civil buildings and monuments, designed the Pension Building.
Who is Montgomery C. Meigs?
This building's dome is made of 8.9 million pounds of cast iron and is topped by the Statue of Freedom
What is the Capitol Building?
This is the approximate total of bricks the building is made of.
What is 15 million? (15.5 million is most correct and also accepted!)
This annual award from the museum honors excellence in sustainable architecture and design.
What is the Vincent Scully Prize?
This software, often shortened to three letters, is used by architects and engineers to create digital blueprints.
What is CAD?
This funny firm was behind NBM's smash summer exhibition's 'The Beach' and Funhouse.'
Who is Snarkitecture?
The 1855 Gothic-Romanesque building known colloquially as "The Castle" is the headquarters of this institution, which administers several other buildings along the National Mall.
What is the Smithsonian?
This government agency occupied the site of the National Building museum from 1927 to 1949.
What is the Government Accountability Office, or GAO?
This year marks the founding of the National Building Museum as an institution (not the building itself).
What is 1980?
This is the distinction of the eight columns in the Great Hall, of the Classical Order categories.
What is Corinthian?
This woman, one of the few female pioneers in architecture, was honored by NBM, was a founding trustee and is known for her advocacy for women in the profession.
Who is Beverly Willis?
This iconic building in DC features a grotesque of Darth Vader on its northwest tower.
What is the National Cathedral?
This Roman palace was the main influence on the exterior of the building.
What is the Palazzo Farnese?
The museum's Great Hall is known for its massive columns — each over this many feet tall.
What is 75 feet?
This is the term for the last stone placed when constructing a traditional arch.
What is a keystone?
This American architectural historian and critic, for whom a prestigious NBM award is named, was the museum's first honorary trustee.
Who is Vincent Scully?
Name one of the DC memorials that Collections has materials for.
What is... WWII, Vietnam War, Korean War, Law Enforcement, Carter Woodson, FDR, Lincoln Memorial?
The Museum's Great Hall houses one of the only three permanent versions of this prestigious item, normally only found in the White House.
What is a presidential seal?
This is the club you should join if you want to get exclusive educational content, monthly activities and free books!
What is the Building Readers Club?