Smithsonian Institution
Sant Ocean Hall
Designed in the Beaux Arts style, the National Museum of Natural History opened in 1910 and continues to be one of the world’s most popular museums today. The renovation of the 23,000 SF Sant Ocean Hall restored the Central Hall space to its early 20th-century appearance, including opening up second-story balconies, dismantling a 1960s-era mezzanine, and reopening the main entrance. The hall includes 674 marine specimens and models drawn from the over 80 million specimens in the museum’s total collection, the largest in the world. Mueller designed new building systems for the project, which was the largest renovation in the museum’s 100-year history.
The renovation of the Central Halls involved a complete upgrade to the existing HVAC and electrical systems and restoration of the historic architectural finishes of the building. The project restored the original grandeur of the space with 52-foot ceilings in the central gallery and 22-foot ceilings in the side galleries. Balconies on the second floor were reopened. Elements of the original architecture were brought back through soaring skylights, plaster columns, cornices, balconies, and walls. The magnificence of this space has become a backdrop for Ocean Hall. From the North Atlantic Right Whale swimming above the exhibit to the journey into the sea depths at the Ocean Explorer Theater, the exhibit illustrates and educates visitors on the many wonders of oceans and their global environments.
Consulting Services
- HVAC Systems
- Electrical Power
- Plumbing Systems
- Cost Estimating
- Historic Preservation
- Lighting Design
- Sustainable Design
Architect
Quinn Evans
Client History
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2027
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Revitalization
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2026
National Air and Space Museum Revitalization
"The ocean is a vast ecosystem crucial to our existence, yet scientific and public understanding of the ocean is still limited. That's why the new Sant Ocean Hall, the most ambitious renovation in the museum's history, is so vitally important. It will greatly expand our knowledge of this extraordinary ocean planet we call home."Cristian SamperMuseum Director
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