The International Spy Museum makes an evocative and vibrant architectural statement. Deception, immersion, isolation, mystery, and peril are inspiring visual metaphors that led the design. Rendered in vivid red light, the building’s sloping fins create a signature statement. Beyond, the visitor gets a glimpse of light oozing out from a louvered façade floating above the internally illuminated base. Linear RGBW fixtures, arrayed on each floor, indirectly illuminate a surface behind the louvers. To meet strict façade energy codes, an algorithm was developed to dynamically throttle overall energy consumption while maximizing color output.
Inside, contemporary state-of-the art lighting, interiors, and exhibits focus the visitor on why the art and science of spy-craft is as critical in contemporary times as it was in the richly presented historical context. A sinuous line of monumental stairs describes the visitors’ path outlined by continuous handrail lighting. Lines of light feature elevator vestibules, the store boasts a flexible retail lighting system, and a stunning points-of-light LED chandelier greets guests arriving at the events center: a large dividable space with sophisticated lighting controls. On the roof-deck, step lights integrated into the perimeter railing illuminate the walking surface without hindering the breathtaking view.
All in all, this exhibition/public gathering space is a new Washington DC jewel in the crown.
