Freelon Adjaye Bond 2, courtesy of afagen

Earlier today, WaPo broke the news regarding the newest – and last – Smithsonian museum to be built on the National Mall. The winning design (see the above photo) for the new National Museum of African American History and Culture belongs to the architectural team from Freelon Adjaye Bond / Smith Group. The group is also designing the new DC public library in Anacostia and has worked on several other Smithsonian projects, including the (in my opinion) outstanding National Museum of the American Indian.

The six finalists have been on display at the Smithsonian Castle since March 27; the winning design was announced this morning.

The new museum is expected to be finished in 2015 at a cost of $500 million and will be built on Constitution between 14th and 15th streets NW, near the Monument. Currently, the museum is in a private phase of fundraising, and half the cost will be funded by Congress.