The Milken Center for the Advancement of the American Dream (MCAAD) is one of Washington, D.C.’s newest museum destinations, dedicated to exploring the ideals, opportunities, and stories that define the American Dream through immersive and interactive exhibits. The museum occupies two National Register–listed former bank buildings, prominently located across from the White House and the U.S. Treasury, along with a third historic structure. Select historic interior elements were removed, salvaged, restored and re-installed along with new stone elements, while the primary stone facades of all three buildings were preserved.
Rugo Stone was engaged early in the design process in 2021 by Shalom Baranes Associates to consult on all stone-related aspects of the project. The Rugo team identified the original historic marble types, researched matching sources, and established direct relationships with quarries to supply new material consistent with the original design.
Rugo Stone’s scope included the removal, salvaging, restoration, and reinstallation of approximately 30,000 square feet of interior paving, steps, door & window casings, along with additional exterior paving on pedestals at the 12th floor Rooftop. Napolean Gray and Calacatta Lincoln marble were used for the lobby floors to match existing and added floor areas, both are stones quarried domestically in the US. Aurisina Fiorito, Bois de Jordan and Botticino Classico marbles were used for the wainscot and wall panels. In the lower level our team installed a waterjet cut, mosaic floor with various, colored marbles. The floor was made with various geometric shapes and they were all interconnected, so precision was key in execution of the design. Precision fabrication, quality control and dry lay review in the shop, along with extensive field measurements helped Rugo team achieve this grand floor installation.
Prior to demolition of stone elements, Rugo team developed extensive procedures detailing every step of the stone salvage process. Each stone piece, many of them massive, was photographed, numbered, and documented for exact location and orientation. Precise as-built measurements were recorded to ensure accurate reinstallation.
Following extensive documentation, stones were carefully removed and packed in custom wooden crates. Materials requiring restoration were shipped to Rugo Stone’s shop, while stones needing no treatment were stored at Grunley Construction’s warehouse. In parallel, Rugo Stone leased a warehouse in Baltimore to receive, store, and distribute new stone materials for the project.
Stone restoration included specialized stain-removal treatments, spot repairs, and the correction of chips, dings, and surface damage, all while preserving the historic patina. Repairs were performed both in situ as well as at Rugo Stone’s facility, depending on the condition and requirements of each stone.
Reinstallation followed a rigorously controlled process guided by salvaged drawings, pre-demolition benchmarks, and documented joint dimensions and profiles. Each stone was returned to its original location, maintaining their original orientation. Final patching and comprehensive cleaning were completed after installation to ensure a seamless, finished appearance. All the stones for the project were drylaid at the factories, reviewed and approved by the architect and owner prior to shipping. In cases where the old stone elements were used along with new stones, the new stones were shipped to the warehouse where the salvaged stones were stored, then drylaid to ensure that alignments were met perfectly and the dimensions were accurate, then reviewed and approved prior to shipping to the job site.
The project was completed on schedule, with zero safety incidents, reflecting Rugo Stone’s commitment to meticulous planning, craftsmanship, and jobsite safety. The MCAAD project stands as a compelling example of the sustainable reuse of natural stone and demonstrates the enduring versatility and longevity of stone within the built environment.
Location: Washington, DC
Completion Date: 2025
Owner: The Milken Institute
Architect: Shalom Baranes Associates
Size: 30,000 Sqft
General Contractor: Grunley Construction Company, Inc.
Services Performed: Design consultation, stone sourcing, engineering, CNC & Waterjet fabrication, Installation
