Plans for the National Medal of Honor Museum envision three buildings:
1. A grass-topped land pavilion that will house the museum entrance and lobby, a 240-seat auditorium, a museum shop, curatorial and archival space and administrative offices for the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation and the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation.
2. A museum building that will include a Hall of Valor that can accommodate public and private events, celebrations and memorials; eight permanent and two special exhibits galleries; and conference, meeting and classroom space, and a small café. A two-level pedestrian bridge – the lower level for groups and conferences and the upper level to take visitors to museum exhibits – will span a ravine to connect the pavilion to the museum.
3. A 140-seat chapel at the tip of the site, overlooking the sea, will be connected to the museum by another two-level pedestrian bridge. It will serve as a place of contemplation and celebration for public as well as personal events.
The museum will be designed with the goal of meeting LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) performance certification at the silver level.