Rafael Viñoly Architects

Yesterday, I had the chance to attend the summit at Design for Freedom by Grace Farms. It was a powerful reminder of how much work still needs to be done to eliminate forced labor from the building industry. Hearing from leaders and activists pushing for greater transparency in material sourcing and supply chains was both inspiring and sobering. What stood out most was the growing commitment from architects, designers, and developers to build more responsibly. It’s encouraging to see real conversations happening about how we can prioritize ethical and sustainable practices—without compromising on design. At Rafael Viñoly Architects, we’re always considering the cultural and human impact of the spaces we create. The principles behind Design for Freedom align with that mission, challenging us to think more critically about the materials we specify and the broader responsibility we carry as designers. Grateful to Sharon Prince and the entire Grace Farms Foundation team for bringing this community together. I’m leaving with a lot to think about—and even more motivation to keep pushing for accountability in our industry.

This is the most poetic of my father’s projects. Even its structural system, which depends on a circumscribed five-pointed star (just like the Medal of Honor itself) - is poetic. Thank you for helping realize Rafael’s vision so cleanly.

What an incredible evening!!! A heartfelt thank you to the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation for honoring the extraordinary Medal of Honor recipients and for transforming this museum into a powerful source of inspiration and pride. We at Rafael Viñoly Architects are honored to be part of such a mission.

The inauguration of the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington Texas on Saturday evening was majestic in every way. This has got to be my father’s (Rafael Viñoly’s) most poetic and meaningful work. On his behalf, and that of our firm (Rafael Viñoly Architects) and my whole family, I am grateful he had the chance to contribute his skill, creativity and passion for our adoptive country to this extraordinary, vital, and noble cause. He would have so loved to be there! And in many ways he was.

Rafael Viñoly Architects is proud to celebrate the opening of the National Medal of Honor Museum, a monumental 102,000 square-foot building located in Arlington, Texas. The Museum’s principal architectural gesture is to elegantly suspend a massive building in the air as if by some superhuman effort, evoking the extraordinary feats of heroism that the Medal of Honor recognizes and the exemplary traits of its Recipients: courage and sacrifice, commitment and integrity, citizenship and patriotism. At the heart of the design is the iconic Exhibition Hall, a 200-by-200-foot steel metal clad structure that hovers 40 feet above the ground, supported by five monumental megacolumns, each representing one of the traditional branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. The U.S. Space Force is represented by a large oculus that pierces the suspended volume and floods the core of the composition with natural light. Visitors enter through a ceremonial entrance down to the Rotunda of Honor, a sunken, open-air courtyard that also functions as a place for public gatherings. From there, guests ascend to the Exhibition Hall by climbing two dramatic spiral staircases or through entirely glass-clad elevators that offer panoramic vistas across the surrounding landscape, arriving at the Orientation Gallery that leads to the main Exhibition Space. The Museum also features spaces that support continuous learning, including the Griffin Institute and two large versatile venues, the Col. Neel E. Kearby Theater and the Patrick Brady Hall. A Museum shop, café, and Education and Curatorial Center house additional amenities. The museum will host Grand Opening festivities this evening, which will be live streamed on the Museum’s website, mohmuseum.org, beginning at 8 PM CDT. 

Dallas friends! Don't miss the grand opening of the National Medal of Honor Museum on March 22! https://lnkd.in/e6GrW9KG   I'm incredibly proud to have been part of this project designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects. Come experience the architecture and powerful stories that celebrate the Medal of Honor recipients.

We're gearing up to celebrate Pi (π) Day by reciting its infinite digits, exploring fascinating mathematical concepts, and, of course, enjoying some delicious pie!  Observed annually on March 14th (3/14), Pi Day honors the mathematical constant π (pi). Represented by the Greek letter “π,” pi is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, approximately 3.14159.  Pi has been calculated to over 50 trillion digits beyond its decimal point. As an irrational and transcendental number, it continues infinitely without repetition or pattern, making it both a mathematical marvel and a fun challenge for memorization and computation.  

Thank you The Townscape Consultancy and JJ Sarralde, DP9 Limited and Barnaby Collins and Oliver Sheppard for the opportunity to share ideas in an open and engaging conversation. Also enjoyed spending time in London with our Managing Director Marco Ortiz.

Join Rafael Viñoly Architects' Jim Herr, AIA, NCARB and Mike Orman at the New York Build Expo 2025 for engaging panel discussions on iconic skyscraper design and adaptive reuse projects. With over 40 years of experience shaping New York City’s skyline—including projects such as 432 Park Avenue, The Greenwich, 277 Fifth and the Ritz Carlton New York, NoMad – Partner Jim Herr will share insights into creating skyscrapers that combine aesthetics with functionality while expertly navigating complex urban regulations. Director Mike Orman will delve into the transformative power of preservation and adaptive reuse, sharing experiences from landmark restorations—such as Salon 94 - 3 East 89th Street and 787 Eleventh Avenue—and innovative office-to-residential conversions in Manhattan, demonstrating how adaptive strategies continue to reshape NYC’s urban landscape. New York Build 2025 Expo March 12, 2025 Javits Center, NYC PANEL Designing Iconic Skyscrapers: Balancing Aesthetics & Function 3:00 PM - 3:50 PM  |  Tall Building & Skyscraper Stage (Stage 4) Chair Bo Liu, Senior Associate, RA - Diller Scofidio + Renfro Panelists Jim Herr, Partner - Rafael Viñoly Architects Kenneth A. Lewis, Managing Partner - Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Robert Whitlock, Principal - KPF Gregg Pasquarelli, Founding Principal - SHoP Architects PANEL Preservation & Adaptive Reuse in New York 4:00 PM - 4:50 PM  |  Sustainability Stage (Stage 1) Chair Brigitte Cook, Senior Associate - PBDW Architects LLP Panelists Mike Orman, Director - Rafael Viñoly Architects Crystal Ng, Director of Sustainability - Curtis + Ginsberg Architects Kevin C. Poulin, Principal - Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Whitney Smith, Associate Principal, Climate & Sustainability - Arup Matthew Stephenson, Principal - Woods Bagot New York More information and access to limited free tickets available here: https://lnkd.in/euyQfHC

With just a few weeks until the National Medal of Honor Museum’s grand opening, Mission Inspire podcast host Mo Barrett speaks with architect Bassam Komati, Partner at Rafael Viñoly Architects, about the museum’s transformation from blueprints to reality. They discuss how the design evolved throughout construction, how the architecture and exhibits complement each other, and how he has brought Rafael Viñoly’s vision to life. Podcast: Mission Inspire | National Medal of Honor Museum and Foundation Episode: From Blueprints to a Building with Architect Bassam Komati  Listen: https://shorturl.at/Cy8v6