2024 Tour Day - NIST Campus

Register for the tour here. SOLD OUT

Friday, October 25th | 2-4 PM

Very limited number of tickets available.

*Registration closes Friday, October 11th at 12:00 PM EST.

In spirt of the Docomomo National 2024 Tour Day theme, Corporate Campus, Docomomo DC has a taken a very "DC" approach and has arranged a tour of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) campus, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Founded in 1901, the agency was originally named the National Bureau of Standards. The mission of NIST is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. Learn more about NIST here.

NIST has three campuses, one in Charleson, South Carolina, one in Boulder, Colorado, and its headquarters here in Gaithersburg, Maryland. This tour consists of the Gaithersburg campus, which began construction in the early 1960's and was completed in phases over ten years. The original campus was located in Washington, D.C. and became too cramped and outdated for the organization.

The Gaithersburg campus was designed by architectural firm Voorhees, Walker, Smith, Smith & Haines. The design features a mix of modernist and traditional elements with buildings arranged in a linear pattern that reflects the campus focus on research and development. Read more about the campus history and construction here - with photos.

In August of 2021 the NIST Gaithersburg campus was designated a Historic District by the National Register of Historic Places. Recognized for its significant advances in the history of science and technology in addition to its acclaimed mid-century modern architectural design and campus planning principles of the post WWII Suburban.

For the tour, attendees will be provided with an overview of the campus and history by Riley Wilson of NIST Public Affairs. Followed by a walking tour of modernist buildings and grounds by Phillip Neuberg, FAIA, NIST Architect & Federal Preservation Officer. One AIA Continuing Education Learning Unit (LU) will be provided for those attendees providing AIA numbers. Register for the tour here.

A limited number of tickets will be available.

(Photo credits: Historic American Buildings Survey)