Time-lapse footage provided by EarthCam
SYNLawn and the National Building Museum Create #LawnDC to Explore Where Design and Landscape Intersect
It’s not every day that you can convince Washington D.C. to embrace something new, even artificial turf. The city that has traditionally preferred live grass, with all its mowing and irrigation requirements, has changed its mind thanks to the innovative plant-based grass offered by SYNLawn. Based on a combination of sustainably grown soybeans and sugarcane, it’s hard to tell that the soft and springy material isn’t live grass.
After thoroughly researching the perfect surface for this memorable and immersive exhibit in the Great Hall of the National Building Museum, the LAB at Rockwell Group chose to install over 26,000 square feet of USDA Certified SYNAugustine 547 for their July 4th Summer Block Party Celebration this summer. Visitors will be able to relax on the synthetic landscape grass or lounge in one of the many interactive hammocks suspended from the 100-foot-tall ceiling grid and listen to recordings from Bette Midler, Venus Williams, Norman Lear, José Andrés, and other prominent storytellers, all recalling their best and never-before-heard summer memories.
]Exploring How We Design and Build Our World
The National Building Museum’s mission is to explore how architecture has impacted our history and continues to shape the world around us. The museum combines educational events, in-depth exhibits, and ongoing programs to encourage patrons to engage with the buildings around them.
As part of this, the National Building Museum has planned the 2019 Summer Block Party around the immersive LAWN exhibit where guests can relax and play lawn games while enjoying refreshments. The most exciting features are the huge hammocks attached to a ceiling grid hidden 100 feet up in the ceiling of the hall. As you swing back and forth over the bright green turf, you’ll be treated to the sounds of summer like chirping crickets from hidden integrated speakers.
The impressive Great Hall that forms the core of the museum is being filled with artificial turf provided by SYNLawn and the installers have made the magic happen within just three days to get it all in place for the grand reveal! The turf isn’t just rolled out over the ground either. A scaffold superstructure was placed over the floor first, mimicking the rolling slope of a real-life park hillside. Of course, this is no extra challenge to the installers donating their time from SYNLawn Chesapeake Bay. Real world installations only occasionally take place on perfectly sloped and leveled playing fields, so the installers are more than prepared to handle the challenges of this installation for the National Building Museum.
Make the time to stroll out on the lush, soft bio-based grass at #LawnDC this summer. Bring the entire family to the National Building Museum’s Summer Block Party, which starts with the grand opening on July 4th.
