Symbolic Colors By ALPOLIC Feature on National Medal of Honor Museum
In the works for over a decade, the National Medal of Honor Museum faced multiple roadblocks, from finalizing its location to delays brought on by the pandemic. The privately funded museum broke ground in 2022 and opened to the public in March of 2025.
The challenge: create a venue to properly honor our country’s Medal of Honor recipients and their achievements. The solution: an ethereal design including ALPOLIC metal composite materials in colors that define excellence.
Project: National Medal of Honor Museum, Arlington, TX
Architect: Rafael Viñoly Architects
Fabricator: Tremco, NOW Specialties
Installer: NOW Specialties
General Contractor: Linbeck Group, LLC
Finishes: ALPOLIC® /fr SBR Bronze, GARR Grey, CMX Metallic Champagne, Custom Mica Gold in 4mm and 6mm thicknesses
The Medal of Honor is the United States’ highest military decoration, awarded to service members from the five branches who have shown valor above and beyond the call of duty. While monuments and museums exist to honor war veterans and highlight military history, a dedicated venue for these award recipients did not exist until now. In 2014, the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation launched a search for a host city. Over the course of five years, the foundation considered military strongholds like Washington, DC, San Diego, and Denver before choosing the growing tourism destination of Arlington, Texas.
Designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects, the venue consists of multiple structures accommodating exhibits, conference space, a café and gift shop, and administrative offices. The primary exhibit space appears to float above the museum grounds, though five columns representing the branches of the United States Armed Forces support the impressive square structure. Visitors access this space via spiral staircases leading to a large oculus that provides natural light to the lower courtyard. ALPOLIC metal composite materials fabricated and installed by NOW Specialties clad this centerpiece design as well as two smaller buildings flanking the ceremonial entryway.
Stock Bronze and custom Mica Gold finishes symbolize the colors used for Medals of Honor awarded since the mid-nineteenth century. As envisioned by the architect, MCM panels clad not only the walls but the roofs of each annex. For proper deflection, NOW Specialties fabricated and installed 6mm panels for the roofs, while using 4mm for the walls and frame around the windows. ALPOLIC’s ability to produce different thicknesses for the panels without compromising color consistency allowed the project to move forward in a timely manner.
ALPOLIC Offers Limitless Customization Options
For specializations in complex projects, ALPOLIC can deliver custom color and core thickness. Our partnership with Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings expands options for architects and designers searching for a specific color that not only elevates the design but lasts for years. Working with Sherwin-Williams, our QA team ensures that the requested color meets all requirements for the project.
ALPOLIC also offers MCM in cores from 2mm through 6mm to accommodate specific needs in design. Thinner cores work well for custom signage with Graphic-AL and specialty projects like traffic signal backplates. Whatever you need to realize your design, ALPOLIC can help.
Learn more about the versatility and durability of metal composite materials. Schedule an AIA presentation with an ALPOLIC Sales Representative today.
Photos: Chad Patterson
