Safdie makes diplomacy tangible: a building that looks like it’s exhaling light onto the National Mall.
American organization.
Featured in Moshe Safdie's definitive monograph, Moshe Safdie: Architecture of Memory.
Visitor Guide
Circle it. The surprise is how different it feels from Constitution Ave versus the Mall side — the building is basically a sectional argument about publicness.
From the National Mall sidewalk, slightly west of the building to catch the layered “sails”; late afternoon when the façade turns into a softbox.
Public programming varies; treat it as a ‘check-today’ building. When open, you can enter for exhibits/events; otherwise, the exterior and Mall-side views deliver most of the architecture.
The daylight strategy is the real brief: the roof geometry is less iconic gesture than a giant piece of environmental equipment.
30–90 minutes
Design & Structure
Museum/civic workflow with heavy environmental simulation: roof-form and glazing tuned for diffuse daylight, with security and Mall-edge constraints shaping circulation and entry sequencing.
Glass, steel, and pale stone/metal surfaces to keep the light-reading clean — the architecture is designed to photograph like it’s self-illuminated.
Long-span roof members and carefully braced glazed planes: a ‘transparent’ building that is structurally anything but.
See Together
Buildings that pair well with United States Institute of Peace — they're nearby or share a compelling architectural conversation.
More by Moshe Safdie
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Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
National Gallery of Canada
Hebrew College
Yad Vashem
Habitat 67
Eleanor Roosevelt College
Nearby in Washington, D.C.
United States Institute of Peace Headquarters
CityCenterDC
Old Patent Office Building
1900 K Street
The Investment Building
Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed United States Institute of Peace?+
United States Institute of Peace was designed by Moshe Safdie and completed in 1984. It is located in Washington, D.C., United States.
Where is United States Institute of Peace located?+
United States Institute of Peace is located in Washington, D.C., United States. Its coordinates are 38.8928°, -77.0507°.
When was United States Institute of Peace built?+
United States Institute of Peace was completed in 1984. It was designed by Moshe Safdie.
Can I visit United States Institute of Peace?+
United States Institute of Peace 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.