A construction project that’s making one of Atlanta’s most cherished cultural attractions more than 50 percent larger reached a significant milestone this week—and its maximum height.
According to Atlanta-based Juneau Construction Company, National Center for Civil and Human Rights’ $56 million expansion has topped out, marking the hallway point of construction at 100 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard. A ceremony was held downtown Thursday to mark the occasion.
To commemorate its 10th anniversary, NCCHR is refreshing its current facilities and expanding its recognizable downtown building with two new wings—totaling about 29,000 square feet—to add classrooms, more exhibits, event areas, and retail space, plus a new café.
Plans for the east wing expansion. Courtesy of National Center for Civil and Human Rights; designs, Perkins & Will
The current NCCHR, which opened with 42,500 square feet in June 2014, was designed by the late, award-winning architect Philip Freelon in partnership with HOK. Its designs were chosen following an international competition.
The Perkins & Will-designed expansion project calls for new wings added around the NCCHR’s symbolic, multicolored façade, both of them swooping from Pemberton Place around toward Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard.
According to Juneau officials, structural framework is now finished for the museum’s East Wing (7,195 square feet) and West Wing (21,790 square feet) expansions of the iconic museum.
Those winged expansions will house a Family Gallery for kids (12 and under), a dedicated gallery on the Reconstruction Era, and updates to permanent exhibits. That includes a redesigned gallery to display artifacts and papers from the Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection, per project leaders.
How the reimagined King Gallery is expected to look and function. Courtesy of National Center for Civil and Human Rights; designs, Perkins & Will
A rendering of the NCCHR expansion, as seen from across Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard. Courtesy of National Center for Civil and Human Rights; designs, Perkins & Will
All NCCHR expansion and renovation work remains on pace to be finished in fall 2025, as Juneau officials reported this week.
The work is substantial enough to temporarily close the museum between January and August next year.
To foot the bill for a larger facility, NCCHR’s “Fulfilling the Vision” capital campaign raised more than $52 million, with a goal of eventually bringing in $56 million, as of this past spring. Officials have told Urbanize Atlanta more than two dozen companies, foundations, and individuals have contributed to the expansion campaign. A $15 million gift from the Arthur M. Blank Foundation “anchored” the fundraising efforts.
Other public and private funding has included $10 million from the City of Atlanta, $8.5 million from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, and $5 million from the Wilbur and Hilda Glenn Family Foundation.
The NCCHR won’t be idle during its 2025 closure. Staff plan to host community events across metro Atlanta that include NCCHR’s Truth programs, which are designed to “bring history to life and address contemporary rights issues” at area restaurants, coffee shops, and event and performance venues, per the center. NCCHR will also continue its current programming—such as K-12 education, the LGBTQ+ Institute, and human rights training for law enforcement—throughout the closure.
As seen prior to construction, the multi-toned NCCHR facade was designed to represent "a mosaic of different nationalities [and] the idea that people from all walks of life can work together in harmony."Courtesy of National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Protective fencing installed around the museum’s perimeter will remain in place through the duration of construction, per officials. The museum's Pemberton Place and Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard entrances will remain accessible throughout 2024.
Have a closer look at what’s to come in the gallery above.
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