The Arlington Entertainment District is a local tourism engine in Texas with stadiums, restaurants, and even a Six Flags. There, Rafael Viñoly Architects has completed the National Medal of Honor Museum (NMOHM), a venue that honors Medal of Honor recipients financed by Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, and other private donors.
NMOHM comprises 102,000 square feet. From afar, a monumental volume clad in metal panels appears to hover out over the ground plane, propped up by five “megacolumns”—one for each of the U.S. Armed Forces traditional branches. The steel structure is 200 feet by 200 feet and floats 40 feet above the ground.
Beneath the exhibition hall is the Rotunda of Honor, defined by a sculptural, spiraling stair that leads to a large oculus. This feature is meant to honor the U.S. Space Force, a branch created by President Trump in 2019 as part of a $2.5 trillion increase in defense spending.
The Rotunda of Honor connects the ground plane to the immersive exhibition space up above where helicopters, photographs, personal artifacts, and other ephemera fill the galleries. Some objects are on display encased in glass, while other visuals are mounted on walls.
NMOHM has a gift shop, a cafe, theaters, classrooms, and more coalescing around the central exhibition space.
Rafael Viñoly Architects said the overall design is meant to evoke the “superhuman effort” Medal of Honor recipients display. The cladding, Rafael Viñoly Architects elaborated, suggests the “strength of fire-forged steel, akin to the strength of character that is forged in the fire of battle.”
“It has been the privilege of a lifetime for us to shepherd my father’s poetic and visionary design for the National Medal of Honor Museum to its ultimate realization,” Román Viñoly, Rafael Viñoly Architects partner, and the son of Rafael, shared in a statement.
“The Museum is more than a building; it is a living tribute to the heroes who have shaped our nation,” Viñoly continued. “Its architecture aims to inspire visitors to recognize the heroic qualities of Medal of Honor Recipients and to cultivate them within themselves, fostering a culture of everyday heroism and sacrifice for the public good.”
The names of Medal of Honor recipients are inscribed onto a sculpted surface on the ground level, greeting visitors. G&A was behind the exhibition and experience design.
Colonel Neel E. Kearby Theater and the Patrick Brady Hall, flank the Rotunda of Honor.
“As stewards of Rafael Viñoly’s vision, our greatest challenge was ensuring the Museum stayed true to its symbolic and monumental intent—honoring Medal of Honor Recipients with a structure that embodies both the weight of their sacrifice and the inspiration of their legacy,” added Bassam Komati, Rafael Viñoly Architects partner.
“Its completion stands as a testament to what is possible through dedication and collaboration, and it was a true honor to work alongside an extraordinary team to bring his vision to life,” Komati added.
