Expansion plans were unveiled for the National Center for Civil and Human Rights building located at 100 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard NW. To complete the anticipated $38,695,000 improvements, a request for financial assistance is requested with Invest Atlanta.
The $500,000 Westside Tax Allocation District Grant will be reviewed by the TAD Project and Policy Review Committee on December 9, 2021. The requested TAD grant will assist in closing the financial gap on the project along with $36,195,000 in donations and other equity totaling $2,000,000.
According to information obtained through Invest Atlanta, the proposed 23,898 square-foot expansion and investment in the National Center for Civil and Human Rights will heighten the organization’s ability to address civil rights challenges by teaching the connection of history to the present, creating dynamic and empathy-building experiences and empowering individuals to become civically engaged.
The current building was constructed in 2014, and expansion plans include a new East Wing that will accommodate an innovation Lab, including 5,000 square feet of flexible classroom, meeting, and training space. Combined with the renovation of existing space, the 10,000 square foot Innovation Lab will serve a variety of purposes, including:
- Classrooms for students and teacher training, especially for underserved schools
- Training facilities for non-profit and corporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) experiences (expect 72-96 sessions per year)
- Human rights training facilities for courses for police officers: Offering 2-3 law enforcement courses/month in 2021 (1,600 – 2,000 police officers/year) and planning eight classes per month after construction completion
- Civic engagement courses to help people tap their own power to change communities
- Post-tour conversation space for visitors, and
- Conference & Event space allowing for high-profile lectures and performances
A new West Wing will house four new galleries and a cafe including:
- A 2,700 SF Family Gallery to house programming and exhibits for families and children under twelve
- A 900 SF Café offering visitors healthy foods
- A 2,500 SF gallery for the Without Sanctuary Collection of artifacts
- A re-imagined gallery for the Martin Luther King Collection of artifacts to culminate a visitor’s experience
- Temporary gallery space for rotating and visiting exhibitions
As stated in official documents, the additional growth will position the National Center for Civil and Human Rights institution to serve as a leading educational and cultural center as well as a global hub for contemporary study and discussion on the linkage between lessons from the past and the advancement of contemporary rights issues today.
The next to the last image looks pretty good but I will say that it seems that Portman has inspired a fair amount of structures that have walls that have their backs to the outside world. I hope there is going to be either a unique and durable surface or some sort of programming to enliven the large blank spaces.