The $300m National Medal of Honor Museum in
Arlington, Texas was Uruguayan-born architect Rafael
Viñoly’s final project. Roman Vinoly tells Magali
Robathan why the project meant so much to his father
Rafael Viñoly got the idea for the design of the museum from a steel slab at his office / Halkin Mason
The inspiration for the design of the National Medal of Honor Museum came to the late Uruguayan architect Rafael Viñoly in the form of one of the small slabs of steel used to stabilize the architectural models at his studio in New York.
As he pitched his vision to the National Medal of Honor Foundation in 2019, Viñoly passed around the steel slab so that everyone could feel its weight.
“The slab was incredibly heavy,” Viñoly explained in a video for the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation in 2020. “It immediately made me think of the extraordinary acts of valour that distinguish the Medal of Honor recipients, as though an individual was miraculously lifting a heavy burden in support of their brothers and sisters in arms… The material itself was appropriate to the symbolic meaning, because the strength of steel forged in fire is akin to the strength of character forged in the fire of battle. The building’s symbolism hinges on the idea of this huge slab of steel that appears to float over a field of honour.”
The board were impressed, and in 2000 Rafael Viñoly Architects were selected as chief architect along with landscape architects MPFP.
Following the unexpected death of Rafael Viñoly in 2023, directors and employees of his studio, including his son Román, pledged to continue his work and honour his legacy. Partner Bassam Komati stepped in to lead the National Medal of Honor Museum project, and in March 2025, the museum – which celebrates the recipients of the US Army’s highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor – opened to the public.
The museum comprises a large 200ft by 200ft exhibition hall housed inside a metal-clad structure lifted into the air, supported by five large columns that each represent one of the traditional branches of the US Armed Forces (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy). The sixth branch, US Space Force, is represented by a large oculus that pierces the suspended volume and brings natural light into the core of the building.
The visitor journey starts in the Rotunda of Honor, a shaded, sunken open-air public courtyard. Two spiral staircases lead up to the main exhibition hall, with an orientation gallery leading into a large exhibition space. Visitor are welcomed with a film tribute in a circular theatre at the centre of the building.
The exhibition design is by experience design studio Gallagher &Associates. Exhibits include a restored Vietnam-era Huey helicopter, interactive panoramic scenes, displays of personal artefacts, a virtual helicopter flight simulation and large-scale graphics depicting the biographies of Medal of Honor Recipients. An interactive display features interviews with 61 Medal of Honor recipients, while the More than a Medal exhibit explores the ordinary lives of recipients.
“As stewards of Rafael Viñoly’s vision, our greatest challenge was ensuring the museum stayed true to its symbolic and monumental intent – honouring Medal of Honor recipients with a structure that embodies both the weight of their sacrifice and the inspiration of their legacy,” said Bassam Komati, partner at Rafael Viñoly Architects. “Its completion stands as a testament to what is possible through dedication and collaboration, and it was a true honour to work alongside an extraordinary team to bring his vision to life.”
Here Román Viñoly, partner, Rafael Viñoly Architects, shares his thoughts on the project with Attractions Management.
What did this project mean to your father? And what does it mean to you? For my father, this project represented a kind of ultimate arrival into the United States – a country to which he was very grateful. Coming from Argentina in the late 1970s, he never took for granted the opportunities that he found here, for himself and for our family. Rafael always embraced the chance to give something back, and in this case, it was through a living monument to heroic individuals who made the greatest sacrifices for their fellow citizens.
I share many of those feelings, even though I was quite young when we arrived in the US. What I feel most vividly when I experience this building is that it may be my father’s most poetic work. It captures not only his deep respect for the nation that welcomed us, but also his belief that architecture can – and should – always serve some civic mission. In this case, that mission is to inspire people to a life of commitment to our fellow human beings, which is fundamental.
How would you sum up the design concept? The design is centred around a bold and symbolic gesture: a massive, almost miraculously suspended volume that houses the exhibition hall, floating 40 feet above a green Field of Honor. Supported by five monumental columns, the hovering structure appears to defy gravity, echoing the extraordinary, selfless efforts that the Medal of Honor recognises.
Two elegant helical staircases provide a ceremonial ascent and descent, guiding visitors into and out of the exhibition with a sense of reverence and procession. The structure is clad in metal, evoking fire-forged steel – strength shaped through adversity – an expression of the resilience and fortitude of the recipients themselves.
What were the biggest challenges of this project? The greatest challenge was engineering the suspended exhibition hall – a massive 200ft-by-200ft-by-35ft volume lifted 40 feet into the air on just five slender column capitals. From those five points, 50 foot cantilevers extend to support the corners of the floating structure against enormous forces. Remarkably, the configuration of the primary steel girders that transfer the entire load onto the five mega columns resolved into a pentagon inscribed in a five-pointed star – an exact match of the shape of the Medal of Honor itself. It’s a detail that no visitor will ever see, but it captures the integrity and meaning embedded in the building from the inside out.
It was also challenging to route all mechanical systems through the limited space of the column capitals, and to proportion life-safety systems and egress – via the two sculptural helical stairs – in a way that meets and exceeds code requirements while preserving the purity of the floating volume.
Finally, we also had to defend the materiality and conceptual integrity of the design throughout the long and complex process of fundraising and construction.
The suspended volume had to be uniformly clad with a natural metal on all six sides – including the roof, which few people will ever see – to preserve the clarity, unity and symbolic power of Rafael’s original vision.
What are you proudest of? I’m incredibly proud that we were able to bring my father’s vision to life in a way that resonates with people. The museum isn’t just visually striking – it invites reflection, learning, and connection. It honours the legacy of Medal of Honor recipients while encouraging visitors to find those same values in themselves. To be part of something that bridges architecture, memory, and moral aspiration is deeply meaningful.
I’m also proud that our entire team – and especially my partners Bassam Komati and Stephanie Tsang – ensured that this building was able to extend and strengthen the legacy of my father’s extraordinary career: work defined by logic and rationality that still manages to raise the purpose of a building to the level of inspiration.
How would you describe your father’s philosophy in terms of his work? My father understood that architecture has certain moral and ethical obligations – to society, to the culture, to the community… and yes, to the client as well. These are huge, enduring, capital-intensive things that should be considered on far longer time-scales than people are accustomed to. That means they should be sustainable not just from the perspective of energy and emissions but, crucially, from the perspective of how a building can evolve with its community to sustain new and often unexpected uses.
The common thread in all his work is an unbiased, first-principles approach to every project on its unique site, with its unique constituencies.
He never imposed a predetermined style or visual language. Instead, he pursued clarity, performance, and coherence – rethinking basic assumptions and allowing form to follow the logic of use, structure, and context. He believed that architecture should reveal, not obscure; that it should respond with precision but aspire to meaning. His work combined intellectual rigour with a belief that even the most pragmatic solution can achieve a kind of poetry.
He saw architecture as an act of service: to users, to the public realm, and to a future that would inevitably see the building differently than its creators. That’s why so many of his projects, even the most complex ones, still feel immediate and generous and are beloved by their communities. They were designed to matter, to function, and to last. That these qualities also result in more valuable assets in the long term was not lost on him either.
What will the next year or two bring for Rafael Viñoly Architects? The next chapter of our practice builds on the values that have shaped our work for decades, while also reflecting a new phase in the life of the firm. The completion of the National Medal of Honor Museum marks an important milestone – one that reinforces our belief in what architecture can accomplish when approached with discipline, purpose, and civic intent.
We are currently working on a diverse range of projects across the US, Latin America, the Middle East, and Europe, including cultural institutions, academic buildings, and large-scale urban developments. What connects them all is a first-principles approach: design grounded in logic and performance, shaped by context, and responsive to the needs of those it serves.
As we move forward under a new partnership structure, our focus is on expanding the creative and technical capacity of the firm while remaining committed to the integrity that defined our work from the beginning. The aim is not to replicate the past, but to build on it — to continue producing architecture that performs, endures and contributes meaningfully to the public realm.
"My father saw architecture as an act of service to users, to the public realm, and to a future that would inevitably see the building differently than its creators" – Román Viñoly
National Medal of Honor Museum
President & CEO: Chris Cassidy – former NASA astronaut and retired US Navy SEAL
Honorary directors: Barack Obama, George W Bush, William J Clinton, Jimmy Carter
Architect: Rafael Viñoly Architects
Exhibit designer: Gallagher & Associates
Landscape architect: MPFP
Lighting designer: One Lux Studio
Theatre planning consultant: Schuler Shook
Acoustics consultant: Cerami
Wind and climate consultant: CPP Wind
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2025 issue 2
Editor's letter: Betting on horror
Year-round horror experiences are a fast-growing trend, but will the companies betting big see their investments pay off?
People: Thelma Golden
As the Studio Museum in Harlem prepares to reopen, its CEO explains why the institution is more important than ever
People: Linda Conlon
A driving force behind the creation of the International Centre for Life, CEO Linda Conlon has seen massive change over the past 25 years. So what’s next for the science centre?
People: Fiona Eastwood
With a passion for the industry, the new CEO of Merlin Entertainments says she is ready to lead the company to a new era of expansion and growth
Design & fabrication: Making a scene
As Adirondack Studios celebrates its 50th birthday, we speak to co-founders Michael Blau and Tom Lloyd, and production art director Lara Brunelle
Theme parks: Out of this world
The first major US theme park to open in almost 25 years, Universal Epic Universe is big news for the industry. We hear from the creative team that made it happen
Immersive experiences: One love
The creators of new Vegas immersive experience Hope Road have partnered with Bob Marley’s children to tell the story of his life and music
Zoos: Into the wild
Billed as Asia’s first adventure-based zoo park, Rainforest Wild Asia lets visitors experience animals in a whole new way. We find out more
Theme parks: Sleeping beauty
Fairytale magic meets traditional grand hotel at Efteling’s newest accommodation offering. Its designer shares the vision
Immersive attractions: Lost in music
As immersive music and hospitality company the Lost Estate announces its latest production, co-founder Eddy Hackett shares its global expansion plans
Immersive: Virginie Valastro
A dramatic ancient canyon made for an amazing starting place for the creation of a spectacular new scare attraction, says its creator
Museums: Roman Vinoly
The recently-opened National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, was one of architect’s Rafael Vinoly’s final projects. His son tells us what the project meant to his father, and how he intends to continue his legacy
The $300m National Medal of Honor Museum in
Arlington, Texas was Uruguayan-born architect Rafael
Viñoly’s final project. Roman Vinoly tells Magali
Robathan why the project meant so much to his father
Rafael Viñoly got the idea for the design of the museum from a steel slab at his office / Halkin Mason
The inspiration for the design of the National Medal of Honor Museum came to the late Uruguayan architect Rafael Viñoly in the form of one of the small slabs of steel used to stabilize the architectural models at his studio in New York.
As he pitched his vision to the National Medal of Honor Foundation in 2019, Viñoly passed around the steel slab so that everyone could feel its weight.
“The slab was incredibly heavy,” Viñoly explained in a video for the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation in 2020. “It immediately made me think of the extraordinary acts of valour that distinguish the Medal of Honor recipients, as though an individual was miraculously lifting a heavy burden in support of their brothers and sisters in arms… The material itself was appropriate to the symbolic meaning, because the strength of steel forged in fire is akin to the strength of character forged in the fire of battle. The building’s symbolism hinges on the idea of this huge slab of steel that appears to float over a field of honour.”
The board were impressed, and in 2000 Rafael Viñoly Architects were selected as chief architect along with landscape architects MPFP.
Following the unexpected death of Rafael Viñoly in 2023, directors and employees of his studio, including his son Román, pledged to continue his work and honour his legacy. Partner Bassam Komati stepped in to lead the National Medal of Honor Museum project, and in March 2025, the museum – which celebrates the recipients of the US Army’s highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor – opened to the public.
The museum comprises a large 200ft by 200ft exhibition hall housed inside a metal-clad structure lifted into the air, supported by five large columns that each represent one of the traditional branches of the US Armed Forces (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy). The sixth branch, US Space Force, is represented by a large oculus that pierces the suspended volume and brings natural light into the core of the building.
The visitor journey starts in the Rotunda of Honor, a shaded, sunken open-air public courtyard. Two spiral staircases lead up to the main exhibition hall, with an orientation gallery leading into a large exhibition space. Visitor are welcomed with a film tribute in a circular theatre at the centre of the building.
The exhibition design is by experience design studio Gallagher &Associates. Exhibits include a restored Vietnam-era Huey helicopter, interactive panoramic scenes, displays of personal artefacts, a virtual helicopter flight simulation and large-scale graphics depicting the biographies of Medal of Honor Recipients. An interactive display features interviews with 61 Medal of Honor recipients, while the More than a Medal exhibit explores the ordinary lives of recipients.
“As stewards of Rafael Viñoly’s vision, our greatest challenge was ensuring the museum stayed true to its symbolic and monumental intent – honouring Medal of Honor recipients with a structure that embodies both the weight of their sacrifice and the inspiration of their legacy,” said Bassam Komati, partner at Rafael Viñoly Architects. “Its completion stands as a testament to what is possible through dedication and collaboration, and it was a true honour to work alongside an extraordinary team to bring his vision to life.”
Here Román Viñoly, partner, Rafael Viñoly Architects, shares his thoughts on the project with Attractions Management.
What did this project mean to your father? And what does it mean to you? For my father, this project represented a kind of ultimate arrival into the United States – a country to which he was very grateful. Coming from Argentina in the late 1970s, he never took for granted the opportunities that he found here, for himself and for our family. Rafael always embraced the chance to give something back, and in this case, it was through a living monument to heroic individuals who made the greatest sacrifices for their fellow citizens.
I share many of those feelings, even though I was quite young when we arrived in the US. What I feel most vividly when I experience this building is that it may be my father’s most poetic work. It captures not only his deep respect for the nation that welcomed us, but also his belief that architecture can – and should – always serve some civic mission. In this case, that mission is to inspire people to a life of commitment to our fellow human beings, which is fundamental.
How would you sum up the design concept? The design is centred around a bold and symbolic gesture: a massive, almost miraculously suspended volume that houses the exhibition hall, floating 40 feet above a green Field of Honor. Supported by five monumental columns, the hovering structure appears to defy gravity, echoing the extraordinary, selfless efforts that the Medal of Honor recognises.
Two elegant helical staircases provide a ceremonial ascent and descent, guiding visitors into and out of the exhibition with a sense of reverence and procession. The structure is clad in metal, evoking fire-forged steel – strength shaped through adversity – an expression of the resilience and fortitude of the recipients themselves.
What were the biggest challenges of this project? The greatest challenge was engineering the suspended exhibition hall – a massive 200ft-by-200ft-by-35ft volume lifted 40 feet into the air on just five slender column capitals. From those five points, 50 foot cantilevers extend to support the corners of the floating structure against enormous forces. Remarkably, the configuration of the primary steel girders that transfer the entire load onto the five mega columns resolved into a pentagon inscribed in a five-pointed star – an exact match of the shape of the Medal of Honor itself. It’s a detail that no visitor will ever see, but it captures the integrity and meaning embedded in the building from the inside out.
It was also challenging to route all mechanical systems through the limited space of the column capitals, and to proportion life-safety systems and egress – via the two sculptural helical stairs – in a way that meets and exceeds code requirements while preserving the purity of the floating volume.
Finally, we also had to defend the materiality and conceptual integrity of the design throughout the long and complex process of fundraising and construction.
The suspended volume had to be uniformly clad with a natural metal on all six sides – including the roof, which few people will ever see – to preserve the clarity, unity and symbolic power of Rafael’s original vision.
What are you proudest of? I’m incredibly proud that we were able to bring my father’s vision to life in a way that resonates with people. The museum isn’t just visually striking – it invites reflection, learning, and connection. It honours the legacy of Medal of Honor recipients while encouraging visitors to find those same values in themselves. To be part of something that bridges architecture, memory, and moral aspiration is deeply meaningful.
I’m also proud that our entire team – and especially my partners Bassam Komati and Stephanie Tsang – ensured that this building was able to extend and strengthen the legacy of my father’s extraordinary career: work defined by logic and rationality that still manages to raise the purpose of a building to the level of inspiration.
How would you describe your father’s philosophy in terms of his work? My father understood that architecture has certain moral and ethical obligations – to society, to the culture, to the community… and yes, to the client as well. These are huge, enduring, capital-intensive things that should be considered on far longer time-scales than people are accustomed to. That means they should be sustainable not just from the perspective of energy and emissions but, crucially, from the perspective of how a building can evolve with its community to sustain new and often unexpected uses.
The common thread in all his work is an unbiased, first-principles approach to every project on its unique site, with its unique constituencies.
He never imposed a predetermined style or visual language. Instead, he pursued clarity, performance, and coherence – rethinking basic assumptions and allowing form to follow the logic of use, structure, and context. He believed that architecture should reveal, not obscure; that it should respond with precision but aspire to meaning. His work combined intellectual rigour with a belief that even the most pragmatic solution can achieve a kind of poetry.
He saw architecture as an act of service: to users, to the public realm, and to a future that would inevitably see the building differently than its creators. That’s why so many of his projects, even the most complex ones, still feel immediate and generous and are beloved by their communities. They were designed to matter, to function, and to last. That these qualities also result in more valuable assets in the long term was not lost on him either.
What will the next year or two bring for Rafael Viñoly Architects? The next chapter of our practice builds on the values that have shaped our work for decades, while also reflecting a new phase in the life of the firm. The completion of the National Medal of Honor Museum marks an important milestone – one that reinforces our belief in what architecture can accomplish when approached with discipline, purpose, and civic intent.
We are currently working on a diverse range of projects across the US, Latin America, the Middle East, and Europe, including cultural institutions, academic buildings, and large-scale urban developments. What connects them all is a first-principles approach: design grounded in logic and performance, shaped by context, and responsive to the needs of those it serves.
As we move forward under a new partnership structure, our focus is on expanding the creative and technical capacity of the firm while remaining committed to the integrity that defined our work from the beginning. The aim is not to replicate the past, but to build on it — to continue producing architecture that performs, endures and contributes meaningfully to the public realm.
"My father saw architecture as an act of service to users, to the public realm, and to a future that would inevitably see the building differently than its creators" – Román Viñoly
National Medal of Honor Museum
President & CEO: Chris Cassidy – former NASA astronaut and retired US Navy SEAL
Honorary directors: Barack Obama, George W Bush, William J Clinton, Jimmy Carter
Architect: Rafael Viñoly Architects
Exhibit designer: Gallagher & Associates
Landscape architect: MPFP
Lighting designer: One Lux Studio
Theatre planning consultant: Schuler Shook
Acoustics consultant: Cerami
Wind and climate consultant: CPP Wind
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2025 issue 2
Editor's letter: Betting on horror
Year-round horror experiences are a fast-growing trend, but will the companies betting big see their investments pay off?
People: Thelma Golden
As the Studio Museum in Harlem prepares to reopen, its CEO explains why the institution is more important than ever
People: Linda Conlon
A driving force behind the creation of the International Centre for Life, CEO Linda Conlon has seen massive change over the past 25 years. So what’s next for the science centre?
People: Fiona Eastwood
With a passion for the industry, the new CEO of Merlin Entertainments says she is ready to lead the company to a new era of expansion and growth
Design & fabrication: Making a scene
As Adirondack Studios celebrates its 50th birthday, we speak to co-founders Michael Blau and Tom Lloyd, and production art director Lara Brunelle
Theme parks: Out of this world
The first major US theme park to open in almost 25 years, Universal Epic Universe is big news for the industry. We hear from the creative team that made it happen
Immersive experiences: One love
The creators of new Vegas immersive experience Hope Road have partnered with Bob Marley’s children to tell the story of his life and music
Zoos: Into the wild
Billed as Asia’s first adventure-based zoo park, Rainforest Wild Asia lets visitors experience animals in a whole new way. We find out more
Theme parks: Sleeping beauty
Fairytale magic meets traditional grand hotel at Efteling’s newest accommodation offering. Its designer shares the vision
Immersive attractions: Lost in music
As immersive music and hospitality company the Lost Estate announces its latest production, co-founder Eddy Hackett shares its global expansion plans
Immersive: Virginie Valastro
A dramatic ancient canyon made for an amazing starting place for the creation of a spectacular new scare attraction, says its creator
Museums: Roman Vinoly
The recently-opened National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, was one of architect’s Rafael Vinoly’s final projects. His son tells us what the project meant to his father, and how he intends to continue his legacy
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’
planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–
Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-
Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional
revenue opportunities.
