Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Center to Undergo First Major Expansion in Over Two Decades
The new extension is projected for completion in 2028
The Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum is set to embark on the first substantial expansion of its Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center since its opening nearly 22 years ago. Located adjacent to Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia, the facility will see a new 44,000-square-foot extension onto the north end of its Boeing Aviation Hangar. Completion is projected for late 2028.
This enlargement will increase the museum’s display capacity, enabling artifacts that have long remained in storage to finally be showcased. “Adding on to the Udvar-Hazy Center will allow us to offer even more to the public … enhancing the experience for our visitors,” said Chris Browne, director of the museum.
Funding for this ambitious project includes private donations from notable supporters such as Steven and Christine Udvar-Hazy, Charles and Lisa Simonyi, Sarah and Ross Perot Jr., the Thomas W. Haas Foundation, and Air Lease Corp, among others. The campaign aims to raise a total of $60 million in private contributions.
A significant benefit of the expansion will be the opportunity to reconfigure the layout of existing aircraft during and after construction. Plans call for new installations, including aircraft like the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress “Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby” and the Martin B-26 Marauder “Flak-Bait” to be showcased in a World War II-themed section of the hangar. Other anticipated additions include a restored Sikorsky JRS-1 (a Pearl Harbor survivor; pictured above), the De Havilland DH-98B Mosquito, and the Franklin “Texaco Eaglet.” The museum also anticipates displaying new acquisitions prior to the construction’s end.
Despite the construction, the Udvar-Hazy Center will remain open to visitors throughout the duration of the project.
The Udvar-Hazy Center, established by Congress in 1992 and opened on December 15, 2003, serves as the National Air and Space Museum’s annex, housing aircraft and spacecraft too large for the National Mall location. Its innovative design includes the soaring Boeing Aviation Hangar (approximately as long as three football fields), a Space Hangar, a public-facing restoration hangar, an IMAX theater, and an observation tower.
Among its iconic exhibits are the Space Shuttle Discovery, Enola Gay, and the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, drawing over 1 million visitors annually in recent years.
This expansion marks a pivotal moment in the museum’s evolution, reaffirming its role as both a guardian of aviation and spaceflight history and a destination for immersive, educational experiences. With enhanced gallery space and the logistical capacity to host more of its storied collection, the Udvar-Hazy Center is positioned to soar to new heights.
