Harold Hon and Son Wooten, both with Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott (SBRA), were selected the winners of an international competition to design the Michael Klahr Holocaust Education Resource Center in Maine. Sponsored by the Holocaust and Human Rights Center (HHRC), the Klahr Center will be built on the University of Maine, Augusta, campus.

Nurturing freedom
Referencing the fragility of freedom and democracy, the architects used the profile of a flower in bloom as inspiration for this 6,000-square-foot facility. At a projected cost of $1.8 million, the Klahr Center will provide state-of-the-art exhibit and educational facilities to relay stories of Holocaust victims and survivors and inform new generations of the price of intolerance. Established in 1984, HHRC’s mission is to reduce prejudice, teach critical thinking, and empower Maine’s students to take an active role in creating a more humane society.

“Harold and I feel honored to be chosen winners of the competition for the Center, which will commemorate an event of world significance,” noted Son. “The Holocaust is a very delicate and challenging event to handle through design. We tried to look at this positively.”

Envisioned as a “calyx wrapped around petals about to open,” the Klahr Center will be neatly sited amid undulating hills, with an amphitheater languidly draped to one side. The “stem” or hard shell of the north and west façades will provide protection from Maine’s harsh winter winds. Classrooms, workstations and additional program elements will be contained within.

The permanent exhibit space, dedicated to preserving the memory of the Holocaust, will be the core or “bud” of the building. The “calyx” breaks through the temporary exhibit hall, pulling away from the center to define the space, while the unfolding “petals” disperse gathered light and provide circulation. Referencing the power of light to sustain the hopes of humanity in its darkest hours, the architects report that their design honors and directs sunlight through the “petals,” achieving a radiant space for meditation and reflection. Sharon Nichols, executive director of HHRC stated, “Their design was so innovative with the petals of light that we fell in love with it. It is a building of hope and inspiration.”

Sustainable endeavor
The architects note that, because HHRC wanted to use both project process and result as a catalyst for scholarship, sustainability was of key importance. Accordingly, the architects’ goal is to achieve LEED™ Gold rating. The structure will exceed ASHRAE 90.1-99 for energy performance by up to 60 percent through passive solar collection, pre-cooled underground air supply, constant monitoring, and the presence of significant plantings within the building. Energy consumption will be reduced through the automatic shading system, high-performance light fixtures, and occupancy and daylight sensors. Local materials will be used as much as possible, reducing energy use during construction. Potable water use will be minimized through high-efficiency toilets, lavatories, and water-cooler fixtures. Additional features include green roofs, rainwater collection, pervious paving, and a 100 percent fresh-air supply system.

Mentoring at its best
The result of an open design charrette at SBRA, Hon and Wooten’s concept was guided and nurtured by SBRA staff. The open competition encouraged both senior and junior designers at the firm to create a design concept for the project. Seven designs were developed and displayed, with all employees encouraged to vote for a favorite. Ultimately, two designs were selected for submission. Angela Watson, AIA, project coordinator for the in-house competition noted, “SBRA has a longstanding commitment to discovering and mentoring young designers within the firm. The charrette gave the staff an opportunity to flex their ‘design muscle.’”

SBRA President Carole Wedge, AIA, acclaimed the selection of Hon and Wooten’s design, “We are proud of their accomplishments. This was a rewarding experience for all those at SBRA who competed, and we will continue to look for competitions that represent creative opportunities for us to explore our strategies around design and imbed sustainable design principles in our work.”

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