International Spy Museum, Washington, D.C.

JBG Smith, Malrite Complete $162M International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C.

by Jeff Shaw

WASHINGTON, D.C. — JBG Smith Properties and Malrite Co. have completed the development of a new and expanded International Spy Museum at L’Enfant Plaza in Washington, D.C. When the project was announced in 2015, The Washington Post reported that the estimated costs were $162 million. The building officially opens to the public on Sunday, May 12.

The development more than doubles the size of the museum to 140,000 square feet and moves it from F Street to just two blocks south of the National Mall and two blocks north of The Wharf. L’Enfant Plaza has its own stop on the Metro rail line.

The museum showcases the world’s largest collection of international espionage-related artifacts and features an interactive exhibition highlighting the villains in the James Bond movies.

In addition to larger exhibition space, the new building also includes dedicated temporary exhibition space; a learning center with workshop spaces; a theater for lectures, films and panel discussions; and adaptable spaces for programs. The rooftop provides nearly 360-degree views of the city, including the Capitol Building and Washington Monument. Indoor event space is encased in floor-to-ceiling windows for private events and public programs.

London-based architect Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners designed the building, and Washington-based Hickok Cole Architects was the architect of record for the project. Clark Construction was the general contractor.

Cleveland-based Malrite created and founded the International Spy Museum. JBG Smith owns the majority of L’Enfant Plaza, a 120,000-square-foot retail development. The plaza, which also features over 1,400 underground parking spaces, was built in 1974 and redeveloped in 2012.

Midwestern media mogul Milton Maltz founded the museum and heads Malrite. The company invested $65 million of its own money to move the museum.

“The world of espionage has been transformed since 2002 when we first opened the International Spy Museum and we felt it was vitally important to update and significantly expand the stories we tell and the insights we provide, addressing spying in the post-9/11 world, the growing threat of cyberwarfare, the passionate debate over enhanced interrogation, and operations we could not have even imagined 17 years ago,” says Maltz.

— Jeff Shaw

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