Lincoln Memorial undercroft

Undercroft shows how the themes of freedom, quality, and unity connect global audiences while telling an honest narrative of American Democracy and its transcendence into the contemporary socio-political climate.

The Lincoln Memorial, arguably the most significant public monument in America, is visited by over eight million people annually. As such, the content, design, and overall experience of an installation in the undercroft requires resonance for an international audience. Our goal is to go beyond expectation by telling difficult truths about American democracy and national history to, in Lincoln’s words, “form a more perfect union.” 

The undercroft exhibition tells the story of President Lincoln’s legacy and its place in the American collective conscious. The exhibition which displays no actual artifacts or documents utilizes historical narrative coupled with contemporary first-person voices to illuminate themes of democracy, race, and freedoms. 

The scope includes all aspects of the museum from the initial welcome to tactile, media-driven, interactive experiences, and visitor feedback. The physical design concept establishes a new layer that supports exhibition infrastructure while abiding by the highest level of historic preservation. Sleek, contemporary forms are seen against the rough, board-formed concrete piers in a dialogue between new and old that respects the scale and boldness of the foundations. Tiered seating faces the enormous void of the undercroft. Inside this inaccessible space, projected images show footage of important moments of the Memorial’s history as part of a theatrical experience.

Note: Concept and Schematic Design completed in 2018. Project abandoned due to National Park Service re-planning.