National Building Museum, The Playground

Pro Bono Engineering for an Interactive Museum Exhibit 

We provided pro bono structural engineering for The Playground, the National Building Museum’s immersive summer exhibit in Washington, D.C. Created in collaboration with Snarkitecture, the exhibit transforms the museum’s Great Hall into a vibrant environment for climbing, building, exploring, and imaginative play. Open July 3 through August 30, 2026, The Playground also features family activities, workshops, and public programs that extend the exhibit’s reach beyond the installation itself. 

Our team designed the exhibit’s subfloor system for a high-profile cultural experience that brings design, community, and public space together. The system includes a platform that spans 30 feet over the museum’s historic fountain, which could not support additional loads. We also designed structural support for the manufacturers’ playground elements. 

A key challenge involved stabilizing the installation without anchoring it to the ground. We also developed a system that museum staff could assemble using readily available wood members and components light enough to handle safely.