A joint resolution to initiate preliminary studies for the restoration and renovation of the Pension Building in Washington, DC, to house a museum of the building arts, and for other purposes.
PL 95-596 (S.J.Res.160), enacted 11/04/1978

92 STAT. 2544 
PUBLIC LAW 95-596—NOV. 4, 1978 
Nov. 4, 1978 
[S.J. Res. 160] 
Pension Building, 
D.C. 
Restoration and 
renovation, 
preliminary 
studies. 
Existing 
conditions study. 
Drawings and 
estimates, 
submittal to 
congressional 
committees. 
Report to 
congressional 
committees. 
Report to 
congressional 
committees. 
Public Law 95-596 
95th Congress 
Joint Resolution 
To initiate preliminary studies for the restoration and renovation of the Pension 
Building in Washington, District of Columbia, to house a Museum of the 
Building Arts, and for other purposes. 
Resolved hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That (a) the Congress finds 
and declares that the Federal Building in the District of Columbia, 
operated and managed by the General Services Administration and 
known as the Pension Building, is unique, historic, constitutes an 
architectural treasure belonging to the people of the United States, 
and must be restored and properly utilized. 
(b) The Congress further declares that the Pension Building 
would most appropriately be dedicated to the public use as the Nation's 
Museum of the Building Arts, benefiting this and future generations. 
SEC. 102. The Administrator of General Services is authorized and 
directed to prepare an existing conditions study of the Pension Build-
ing, located in the block bounded by Fourth Street, Fifth Street, " F " 
Street, and "G" Street, Northwest, in the District of Columbia. After 
consultation with the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and the 
Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, he shall prepare 
drawings, together with preliminary cost estimates, for the restora-
tion and renovation of the Pension Building, in its entirety, to house 
the Museum of the Building Arts. Such drawings shall be consistent 
with and provide space for the functions and facilities proposed in 
the report of the Committee for a National Museum of the Building 
Arts, Incorporated, dated January 1978, and on file at the National 
Endowment for the Arts, including alternative treatment of the facili-
ties listed in subsection 104(d) which may require structural modifica-
tions of the Pension Building. Such drawings and estimates, together 
with the existing conditions study, shall be submitted to the Com-
mittee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, and to the 
Committee on Public Works and Transportation of the House of Rep-
resentatives, not later than November 1,1978. 
SEC. 103. The Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts 
is requested to report to the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works of the Senate, and to the Committee on Public Works and 
Transportation of the House of Representatives, not later than Novem-
ber 1,1978, his initial observations and opinions with respect to— 
(a) the prospects for private funding of museum operations, 
including an appraisal listing the potential sources of 
financial 
support, together with a preliminary estimate of the amount of 
such support which might reasonably be anticipated; and 
(b) such other factors as, in his opinion, may contribute to the 
feasibility of the proposed museum. 
SEC. 104. The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution is requested 
to report to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the 
Senate and to the Committee on Public Works and Transportation 
of the House of Representatives, not later than November 1, 1978, 
his initial comments and opinions concerning— 
(a) the potential for visitation at the proposed museum, com-
pared to visitation at Smithsonian museums in recent years; 
PUBLIC LAW 95-596—NOV. 4, 1978 
92 STAT. 2545 
(b) the potential for interaction between the proposed museum 
and existing collections and programs of the Smithsonian; 
(c) the proportion of total space (based on the Secretary's 
experience with such Smithsonian Museums as Air and Space, 
Arts and Industries, and History and Technology) required for 
(i) inactive storage, (ii) the study of collections housed in the 
museum; (iii) staff offices; and (iv) public/exhibition use; 
(d) the value and approximate costs of providing facilities to 
accommodate (i) food service; (ii) a museum shop; (iii) a com-
puter service or center; and (iv) an auditorium, together with 
recommendations for optimum size and desirable features of 
such facilities. 
SEC. 105. As used in this joint resolution, the term— 
Definitions. 
(a) "building arts" encompasses all practical and scholarly 
aspects of architecture; and landscape architecture; engineering; 
building and cohstruction; urban planning, design, physical 
development, and renewal; and historic preservation; 
(b) "museum" means the Museum of the Building Arts, as 
generally proposed by the Committee for a National Museum of 
the Building Arts, the primary purpose of which shall be (i) to 
create in the Nation's Capital a center to exhibit, demonstrate, 
and encourage contributions to the building arts and sciences, 
with an emphasis on American initiatives; (ii) to establish and 
operate a building arts documents archive, and a building arts 
reference library for citizens and public and private institutions; 
and (iii) to foster educational programs, to provide a forum for 
information exchange amon^ professionals in the building arts, 
and to enhance understanding and appreciation of all facets 
of the building arts and sciences; 
(c) "Administrator" means the Administrator of General 
Services; 
(d) "Chairman" means the Chairman of the National Endow-
ment for the Arts; and 
(e) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Smithsonian 
Institution. 
SEC. 106. The Administrator shall insure that any occupants of the 
Pension Building shall be temporary pending establishmeiit and 
occupancy of the building by the National Museum of the Building 
Arts; and that such occupants shall in no way conflict with, interfere 
with, or cause to delay efforts toward the restoration and renovation 
of the building to house the museum. 
92 STAT. 2546 
PUBLIC LAW 95-596—NOV. 4, 1978 
Appropriation 
SEC. 107. (a.) For the purposes of section 102 of this joint resolu-
authorizations. 
tjon^ the Administrator is authorized and directed to expend not to 
exceed $60,000 from funds available to him for the alteration and 
repair of buildings. 
(b) For the purposes of section 103 of this joint resolution, the 
Chairman shall expend not more than $10,000 from funds available 
to him. 
(c) For the purposes of section 104 of this joint resolution, the 
Secretary shall expend not more than $10,000 from funds available 
to him. 
Approved November 4, 1978. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 95-1776 (Comm. on Public Works and Transportation). 
SENATE REPORT No. 95-1181 (Comm. on Environment and Public Works). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 124 (1978): 
Sept. 15, considered and passed Senate. 
Oct. 14, considered and passed House.