Site preparations begin for new cultural institution at Fort Worth

The National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, has reached a major milestone as demolition began on its future site, currently occupied by the Historic Southside Community Center. Designed by Tenderstream member BIG and Alligood Song Architects with KAI Enterprises and the local Fort Worth community, the 72,000 sq ft museum is envisioned as the new national and global destination for the education, preservation, and celebration of Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the day in 1865 when news of emancipation reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas. 

The construction milestone was marked with a ceremony attended by Dr. Opal Lee, who is celebrating her 100th birthday. The lifelong Texan was a driving force in making Juneteenth a federal holiday. She was joined by Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, government officials, community members, museum supporters, and the design team. 

The new mass timber building will include immersive galleries, a business incubator, a food hall, a flexible black box space, and a theatre. Its undulating roof creates a series of ridges, peaks, and valleys of varying heights that combine to create a ‘nova star’ shaped courtyard in the middle, which acts as an anchor for the museum and its activities. 

Douglass Allgood, partner at BIG, stated: “The National Juneteenth Museum came to BIG looking for a design that captures the social, cultural, and spiritual importance of Juneteenth celebrations for Black people while expressing its historical significance and relevance to all Americans. Our hope is that this building will become a gateway to the Historic Southside community of Fort Worth while serving as a national and global destination. Our engagement with Dr. Opal Lee and member of the community to really understand their needs is what informed a lot of the design principles. As a Black architect, this project is one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.”

Lucy Nordberg
Tenderstream Head of Research

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