Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream

Owner: Milken Institute | Services: Construction Support Services

The Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream is a transformative project in Washington, D.C. The Milken Institute is developing it with the goal of promoting access to education, health, economic freedom, and entrepreneurship for people from all walks of life.

The Milken Center is on Pennsylvania Avenue, near the White House, in Washington, D.C. The center occupies a historic site that consists of multiple buildings, including the Riggs National Bank Building and the former location of the Corcoran Gallery of Art’s second branch. The complex construction project includes a significant renovation and restoration of historic buildings, carefully preserving the architectural integrity and historic character of the structures while incorporating modern amenities and sustainable features. The renovation includes refurbishing the facades, restoring original architectural elements, and updating the interiors to accommodate new uses. The renovation also involves extensive modernization to transform the historic buildings into a state-of-the-art educational and cultural center. This modernization includes updating building systems (HVAC, plumbing, and electrical), and enhancing accessibility with modern elevators and ramps.

Once complete, the center will be a hub of education and culture, offering a mix of exhibit spaces to tell the stories of individuals who have advanced the American Dream. It will also house event and conference facilities suitable for hosting conferences, seminars, and other gatherings, and education spaces offering resources and programs aimed at fostering entrepreneurial skills, economic literacy, and public policy dialogue.

Akridge, who serves as the third-party construction manager on the project, engaged Axias’ construction support services, which included contract pay application review, cost estimating, change order analysis, and labor rate review.