PROJECT  Vicksburg Civil War Interpretive Center

ARCHITECT  GWWO Architects

LOCATION  Vicksburg, Mississippi, US​

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  3/29/2024

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Alan Reed, Al Ip, Patrick Fava, Kimmie Kim, Han Chun, Jason Agostinelli & Jeff Barnes
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PHOTOGRAPHER  GWWO Architects
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT HDLA
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SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT  
The new Vicksburg Civil War Interpretive Center serves to expand upon, more holistically tell, and commemorate the stories surrounding the Civil War and Reconstruction era in Mississippi and throughout the nation. The new Interpretive Center will better support visitors during their visit to the park and affiliated sites throughout the region.

Like the battles that took place around Vicksburg, the Interpretive Center is bound by and grows from the land, recalling the hilly terrain and manmade earthworks that comprise the battlefield. A singular iconic form on the landscape, the building is intended to represent the unity of our nation that, in large part, resulted from the victory at Vicksburg during the Civil War. The building rises up from the landscape, symbolic of the hope for our nation that was forged by the Civil War and invites visitors in to experience the Center and learn about the stories—many under told—of the full history of the campaign and siege, from pre-war Vicksburg to Reconstruction and the battlefield today.

Clad with a dynamic scrim that appears to change depending on one’s perspective, the façade takes on multiple meanings associated with unification, understanding, connection, and viewpoint. From afar, the façade appears as a powerful and strong solid piece. It is only as the visitor draws near does it begin to resemble a tapestry or fabric, made up of many individual components, all reliant on one another to succeed. This is representative of hope for the future, only possible through unification. The apparent movement of the facade reinforces that the stories represented are not static history, and the effects of the Civil War and Reconstruction can still be felt in America today. The Interpretive Center, and the stories told within, is a bridge from the past to the present.

The landscape design, through strategic clearing, grading, and planting creates memorable experiences unto itself and focuses visitors on the critical stories being told in the new Interpretive Center. The terrain in and around the park can serve as a hinderance as it creates challenges with accessibility, limiting some visitors to the existing visitor center and not allowing them to experience the battlefield itself. To address this, and offer all visitors an immersive experience, a new fully accessible pathway leads visitors through a cleared landscape so that those with special needs can experience the site in a way that is otherwise difficult to access throughout the park.

JURY COMMENTS (If applicable)

MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project PDF

IMAGES (Captions and Photographer Credit)
1. Aerial / GWWO Architects
2. Aerial / GWWO Architects
3. Lobby / GWWO Architects
4. Entry & Plaza / GWWO Architects
5. Southeast Facade / GWWO Architects
6. Northwest Facade / GWWO Architects
7. Research Library / GWWO Architects
8. Entry Exhibit / GWWO Architects