For a small but historically significant city in upstate New York, the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center was commissioned to celebrate the Auburn and Finger Lakes region’s pivotal role in the civil rights, women’s suffrage and LGBTQ movements. As the hometown of Harriet Tubman, William Seward, and other figures central to the struggle for equal rights, the city 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 historic 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 for programs that will evolve with the community’s needs. The building and new public plaza hosts numerous community programs, including a farmers market, concerts, talks and meetings. The inherent flexibility of the interior and plaza spaces offers users a welcoming, comprehensive and approachable experience. The result is not only a trailhead to historic sites, but also a portal for community interactions.
