A Greek Revival colossus that got a new glass-sky heart—proof that adaptive reuse can be both polite and radical.
U.S. National Historic Landmark building in Washington, D.C., United States.
Featured in Foster + Partners's definitive monograph, Norman Foster: A Life in Architecture.
Visitor Guide
Use it as an urban refuge: step in off the street, head straight to the courtyard, then decide which museum wing earns your time.
In the courtyard, shoot upward to capture the canopy geometry against the historic cornices; late afternoon for softer reflections.
Open to the public as part of the Smithsonian museums housed within; free admission during posted hours.
The Foster-era courtyard roof is the hinge between eras: it doesn’t imitate history—it gives the building a new interior climate and social role.
1–2 hours
Design & Structure
Landmark preservation paired with a contemporary long-span glazed intervention. The design process is largely coordination: structure, drainage, thermal movement, and preservation constraints.
Historic masonry + modern steel-and-glass roof—mass meets lightness in a single interior room.
Spanning a large courtyard while landing loads delicately on historic fabric requires careful load transfer, movement joints, and deflection control.
See Together
Buildings that pair well with Old Patent Office Building — they're nearby or share a compelling architectural conversation.
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University of Turin
University of Toronto
Copenhagen Zoo
Lürssen
Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy
Stanford University
Nearby in Washington, D.C.
United States Institute of Peace
United States Institute of Peace Headquarters
CityCenterDC
1900 K Street
The Investment Building
Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed Old Patent Office Building?+
Old Patent Office Building was designed by Foster + Partners. It is located in Washington, D.C., United States.
Where is Old Patent Office Building located?+
Old Patent Office Building is located in Washington, D.C., United States. Its coordinates are 38.8978°, -77.0229°.
Can I visit Old Patent Office Building?+
Old Patent Office Building is a real building in Washington, D.C. that can be viewed from the outside. Check local information for interior access and visiting hours. Use the Parametric Atlas walking tour feature to plan a route that includes this building.