THE NEW YORK TIMES REVEALS NATIONAL JUNETEENTH MUSEUM DESIGN

With ‘The Grandmother of Juneteenth,’ Ms. Opal Lee at the helm, the new 50,000 sq ft museum dedicated to preserving the history of Juneteenth and legacy of freedom will be designed by BIG and African American-owned design and build firm, KAI Enterprises, as reported by The New York Times.  “As a black architect, this project is one of the most rewarding experiences of my career…After nearly 40 years in this profession, I have the opportunity to lead a design for a project that is focused on African American culture,” says Douglass Alligood, Partner, BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group. “Our engagement with Ms. Opal Lee is what informed a lot of the design principles; our hope is that this building will become a gateway to the Historic Southside community of Fort Worth while serving as a national and global destination. Juneteenth is not only American history – it is world history.” Located in the Historic Southside of Fort Worth, Texas – one of the South’s most underserved communities – The National Juneteenth Museum will be the epicenter for the education, preservation and celebration of Juneteenth nationally and globally, hosting exhibitions, discussions, and events about the significance of African American freedom.