Me, Myself and Infrastructure: Private Lives and Public Works in America, an exhibition that explores the infrastructure of a thirsty, car-crazy nation, opens today at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC. From a consumer’s eye view of the built environment, Me, Myself and Infrastructure brings civil engineering close to home through a series of settings that evoke everyday places, including a coffee shop, an office cubicle, a living room, and a big-box store. The show, which will be on view through February 16, 2003, is presented in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

 

In describing why an exhibition about civil engineering is so important to the public, curator Greg Dreicer, co-director of Chicken&Egg Public Projects Inc., says: “One-third of the world’s population lacks access to safe drinking water. One-half lacks the sanitation systems that keep things flush in the United States. You’d think that these facts would lead Americans to worship their civil engineers. Why don’t they? Because civil engineers do their job too well. They make it seem too easy and natural.”

 

“Me, Myself and Infrastructure” examines public expectations and demonstrates how our everyday lifestyles and infrastructure are inseparable, and sheds light on the hidden engineered systems that facilitate our daily lives, such as electrical power and water treatment, by asking six essential questions:

 

Who’s responsible? The journey begins on a mail box-lined road introducing the people behind suburban life in Washington, D.C. – the myriad of individuals and organizations with which civil engineers work in the complex process of infrastructure decision-making. Visitors will be encouraged to consider whether current sprawling development patterns dictate where they live, or whether their personal lifestyle choices actually create sprawl.

 

Is it safe? By taking visitors virtually across streets in Atlanta, New York, and Portland, Oregon, this section looks at the infrastructure behind pedestrian and vehicular traffic, illustrating how civil engineers minimize risk and heighten safety awareness.

 

Why so big? The link between home and infrastructure – the hidden yet massive engineered systems needed to support the activities that take place in our living rooms.

 

Is it available? An analysis of the essential ingredients of a typical coffee shop – water supply and water treatment – examining how even a cup of coffee and a bagel are engineered products.

 

How much does it cost? Set in an office environment, the focus here is on the costs and environmental impact of producing, using, and disposing of computer equipment and other office products.

 

How long will it last? The final question considered reflects on the durability and disposability of materials and structure – the issues that revolve around the permanence of infrastructure and the products it delivers – explored by “shopping” in a big-box discount store.

 

“Me, Myself and Infrastructure,” which debuted earlier this year at the New-York Historical Society in Manhattan, was developed by Chicken&Egg Public Projects, Inc., and designed with Boym Partners, Inc. The National Building Museum’s presentation was organized by Ramee Gentry, coordinating curator, and Cathy Crane Frankel, director of exhibitions. The show is underwritten by the ASCE and is made possible by the support of the ASCE Foundation, The Elizabeth & Stephen Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, and Charles Pankow Builders, Ltd.

 

Founded in 1852, American Society of Civil Engineers represents 130,000 civil engineers worldwide and is America’s oldest national engineering society.

 

The National Building Museum, created by an act of Congress in 1980, is America’s premier cultural institution dedicated to exploring and celebrating architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning. Since opening its doors in 1985, the Museum has become a vital forum for exchanging ideas and information about such topical issues as managing suburban growth, preserving landmarks and communities, and revitalizing urban centers.