NMAAHC EIS Project Website

A viewshed analysis was undertaken by the The Louis Berger Group, Inc. (Berger) and its subconsultant, Beyer Blinder Belle, Architects and Planners to analyze different building heights and mass in context.

Viewshed key (rollover image for information, click to enlarge)
A. View from the top of the Washington Monument
B. View from 14th Street looking north
C. View from 15th Street looking north
D. View toward NMAAHC site from Washington Monument base
E. View from NE corner of 14th & Constitution
F. Constitution looking east
G. From center of Ellipse looking southeast
H. From southwest corner of Washington Monument grounds

	No Build	Alt 1	Alt 2	Alt 3	Alt 4	Alt 5	Alt 6

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H

[Methodology]

The viewshed analysis consisted of a three step process. First, the Berger Team carried out a visual reconnaissance of the views of the NMAAHC site from spots in the city and from across the Potomac River in Virginia. Each major location from which the museum might be visible, both close up and from afar, was included. Digital photographs with the point of origin noted were taken to serve as backgrounds upon which simple wire diagrams representing the museum at a certain height or scale could be electronically superimposed. The object was to provide an easily accessible answer to the question of how the addition of a building at a given height and width would affect the view of the site from all the most significant and/or familiar vantage points. Secondly, a 3D modeling technique was used to simulate the volume of build out for each option. Finally, the volume was transposed over the existing photograph in order to simulate the area of impact and the degree to which adjacent historic resources would be obscured.

In addition, several secondary views are shown in their existing conditions to delineate the “no effect” categorization in the DEIS analysis: