William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
In response to President Clinton’s desire to “put things in the light,” the 165,000-sf (15,000-sm) William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library & Museum was designed to be a vibrant place, accessible, highly visible and mutable. The main building takes the form of a glass bridge symbolizing President Clinton’s theme of “Building a Bridge to the 21st Century.”
The LEED Silver museum houses archive and exhibit spaces, as well as the Clinton Foundation Headquarters. The site includes the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service and a 28-acre recreational park. At the center of the project is the Bridge (Museum) Building, which serves as a library that houses exhibits that are dedicated to Mr. Clinton’s presidency and personal life. The 420-ft (130-m) long glass-enclosed Museum Building hovers above the ground while cantilevering out 90 ft (27 m) at both ends. The building’s transparency and daylighted spaces are designed to open and inviting to the public.
Location
Client
Clinton Presidential Foundation
Architect
Polshek Partnership (now Ennead Architects)
Awards
Architecture Design Award of Honor, 2006
American Institue of Architects (AIA) National
Engineering Awards of Excellence, 2006
American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)
Award for Engineering Excellence, 2006
American Council of Engineering Companies New York (ACEC NY)