Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN)– The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, in Washington, DC, revealed 5 proposed designs for the $130 million Bezos Education Center, a project that will be realized as part of a $200 million endowment provided by Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos.
This is the largest donation the Smithsonian has received since its founding in 1846.
The museum is seeking public opinion of the five projects before announcing the winning company in the coming months.
Bids submitted by five unknown companies were reviewed during September.
The final design is due to be submitted for approval in 2023.
The building is expected to be unveiled in 2026, coinciding with the museum’s 50th anniversary.
The former site of a ruined, glass-walled restaurant, designed by the late architect Gyo Obata and his firm HOK in 1988, will be used for the new education centre.
The complex will be spread over three levels and 50,000 square feet, and will include exhibition spaces, a restaurant, a rooftop terrace and an observatory.
Some suggestions include a honeycomb-inspired architecture, with elements influenced by the International Space Station and the James Webb Telescope, a bulbous dome reminiscent of rocket ships, and a design influenced by the spiraling patterns of the Milky Way.
The donation will also fund the ongoing renewal of the museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of aviation and space works.
In a previous statement regarding the project, Bezos said: “The Smithsonian plays a vital role in igniting the imaginations of future builders and dreamers. Every child is born with great potential, and this place is an inspiration that unlocks that potential. My relationship with science, invention, and space drove me to do so, and I hope this gift has an impact. himself over others.
