Safdie Architects’ ever-expanding portfolio of iconic cultural buildings in America is to grow with the addition of the National Medal of Honor Museum at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, S.C. Joining the sculptural forms of the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts and the Crystal Bridges Museum, Safdie has unveiled an equally distinctive structure for Charleston Harbor, dedicated to those who received the nation’s highest military honor.
Alluding to the five-pointed star of the medal itself, the main museum building is composed of five inclined volumes that radiate outward to form a pentagonal structure. Each contains a gallery with exhibits that “bring the stories of Medal of Honor recipients to life.” The concrete skin of the museum is tinted gray-blue to echo the cool colors of the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, moored in the harbor nearby.
Two additional buildings are proposed. A small, 140-seat chapel will be connected to the museum via a two-level pedestrian bridge, serving as a place for contemplation and a venue for personal memorial events. Additionally, a grass-topped pavilion will house the museum entrance and lobby, a 240-seat auditorium, a shop, and administrative spaces for foundations connected to the museum.
The museum will be situated in a scenic coastal area. The design for the pavilion and museum building looks to take full advantage of this natural context, incorporating pedestrian pathways and bridges overlooking marsh and grasslands. The outlook from both the museum and the chapel will be equally picturesque, with panoramic views of the ocean, Cooper River, and the iconic Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge.
The unveiling of the museum’s design comes at the beginning of what looks like a pretty stellar month for Moshe Safdie: the architect has been recognized with one of architecture’s most prestigious awards, the AIA Gold Medal, which he will receive at their annual convention on May 14th.