Quote:
Museum Breaks Ground On Phase Two
By Kara Clark
Board members, staff and invited guests of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center tore down an important wall Wednesday morning.
Those gathered witnessed the breaking down of a wall into a vacant space that will soon house the museum's restoration, preservation and archive operations under one roof. Five separate facilities will be included in the Phase Two development of the five-year-old museum. Among them are the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar, a large space that will accommodate several aircraft at one time and house a second-floor viewing area so visitors can witness ongoing aircraft restoration and preservation work. Also included in the Phase Two development are a single space, three-and-a-half times larger than what currently is available, for the museum's ample archive collection; the Emil Buehler Conservation Laboratory, which will provide conservators much-needed space to develop and execute specialized preservation strategies for aircraft; and a collections processing unit and collections storage facility.
Museum Director Gen. John Dailey called the Wednesday wall breaking "truly a significant milestone in the history of this museum." Dailey explained that when the museum was being planned, it was originally intended to open with the Phase Two development already completed. Because of insufficient funding, however, the project had to be delayed.
G. Wayne Clough, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, remarked on the important resource and learning tool the Udvar-Hazy Center provided. Clough noted that the Dulles aviation museum is the second most popular of its kind, second only to the flagship museum in Washington, DC. He said he saw the Phase Two development as a look to the future by providing the younger generation with a view of the past.
"Phase Two is all about the future," Clough said. "We have to build our present legacy and pass that on to the next generation. The future generations will come here and be stunned with what others have done for them. We're inspired to take the next leap into the future."
Found it here:
http://www.leesburg2day.com/articles/20 ... 101508.txt
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
