Gone Wild- National Geographic Museum

The National Geographic Museum embodies National Geographic’s mission to educate, inspire, and illuminate the world through science, exploration, and storytelling. More than a destination, the museum serves as a gateway into the unknown- inviting visitors to engage with the wonders of our planet, past and present. Constantly evolving to enhance the visitor experience, the museum recently introduced a series of striking animal sculptures positioned at its entrance. These installations were designed to spark curiosity and capture attention even before guests step inside, reflecting the museum’s commitment to creating immersive, visually compelling encounters that celebrate discovery.

The supports were engineered and fabricated to carry a series of custom animal sculptures positioned within the planters at the National Geographic Museum’s main entrance. Working in close collaboration with the project’s artists and structural engineers, the fabricator developed a system of vertical steel members anchored to the base of each planter and finished with precision connection plates to receive the sculptures. Because final elevation data was not available during production, the steel assemblies were fabricated and sent to the galvanizer to ensure long-term corrosion performance and favorable life-cycle cost, then field-fitted in partnership with the artist, allowing each sculpture to be aligned accurately within the evolving site conditions. Throughout installation, the project team coordinated around existing drainage, electrical infrastructure, and concrete conditions to seamlessly integrate the supports into the museum’s entry landscape. The placement of the sculptures represents the culmination of a highly collaborative and technically detailed effort that began in April 2025 and brought the museum’s renewed entrance experience to life.