Masonry Magazine January 1980 Page. 14
WASHINGTON'S NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART
A Peerless Project of Masonry Crafts
It was the Building of the Year. The new East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., was an immediate sensation. All architectural publications devoted multi-page color features to it. Television newscasters took their viewers on guided tours.
In its very first full year of operation, the East Building became the national capital's premier tourist attraction, and architect I.M. Pei reaped lavish praise for his unique design.
Located on a prominent site on The Mall between Capitol Hill and the downtown area, the East Building became a visible hub of tourist activity and a centerpiece of public Washington. Its seven-year construction time and $85 million price tag all but guaranteed the building would attract a great deal of attention.
But millions of visitors to the East Building have come away with more than just awe at the building's scale and beauty. They've come away feeling that they've seen a
14 MASONRY/JANUARY, 1980