Tennessee Historical Commission

ANF worked closely with the Tennessee Historical Commission to design the 6,500 s.f. Alex Haley Interpretive Center and Museum on the site of the famous author’s former home in Henning, TN.

The Visitor’s Center was created to enhance the mission of the historic house and museum with a design that reflects the architectural ‘roots’ of a small southern town.

The design concept for the one-story Alex Haley Interpretive Center building focuses Visitors’ experiences on the principle feature of this National Register of Historic Places site - the Historic House itself. Upon entering the Lobby with its graduated vaulting and full-height glass wall, a carefully considered vista created by the building's two angled wings provides a sightline oriented directly toward the House. All public spaces in the Interpretive Center open onto this central Lobby with its framed view of the remarkable Home. Exhibits completed in 2010 bring Haley's accomplishments to life through Coast Guard artifacts, a stylized slave ship, and his Pulitzer Prize. Exhibit consultants were Natural Concepts, 1220 Exhibits, and Black Orchid Design. Tennessee Historical Commission manages this property.

Project Awards:
First Place, MetalMag Architectural Awards Merit Award
AIA Gulf States Region Merit Award
AIA Tennessee Award of Excellence
Masonry Institute of Tennessee

http://www.alexhaleymuseum.org/