The NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center was commissioned to celebrate the Finger Lakes region’s pivotal role in the abolition, suffrage, civil rights, and LGBTQ movements. As the adopted hometown of Harriet Tubman, William Seward, and other figures central to struggles for equal rights, the city of Auburn is well positioned to tell a wider story. The center creates meaningful connections between past and present, educating and guiding visitors virtually and physically through its historical and social contexts.
Four angled brick volumes hinge open to frame views of the surrounding landscape and historic sites beyond, through the lens of the exhibition inside. The permanent exhibition, co-designed by nARCHITECTS, brings to life the causes and individuals connected to this history through songs, speeches, games, portraits, political posters, animated maps, and video timelines.
We also conceived the center as Auburn’s living room – a flexible interior and exterior space that evolves with the community’s needs. The building and new public plaza host numerous community programs, including a farmers market, concerts, talks, and meetings. The inherent flexibility of the interior and plaza spaces offers users a welcoming experience. The result is not only a trailhead to historic sites, but also a portal for community interactions.
