Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum
Profound reflection in a meaningful showcase
Project Facts
| Location | Dallas, Texas |
| Owner | Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum |
| Size | 52,300 SF |
| Cost | $73.5 million |
| Status | Completed 2019 |
Overview
Dedicated to teaching the history of the Holocaust and advancing human rights, Dallas’s Holocaust and Human Rights Museum stands proud as the beacon for a thoughtful portrayal of human realities. The use of copper in the design, both in its interior and exterior, serves as a powerful symbol, representing the endurance and resilience of the stories behind the museum’s experiential exhibits while underscoring the profound depth of inhuman injustice.
Services
About the Project
Founded in 1984 by a group of Dallas area Holocaust Survivors, the original Dallas Holocaust Museum was in a 6,000-square-foot space that no longer met its needs. Following an extensive search and competition, Omniplan was selected as the architect for a new 55,000-square-foot space in Dallas’ West End Historic District. The museum accommodates more than 200,000 visitors a year.
The three-story building is organized around a memorial courtyard for reflection and gathering. The museum also includes 27 unique exhibits, a 250-seat auditorium for films and events, two 50-seat classrooms, a climate-controlled library and archives, and a memorial and reflection room. Bands of copper that will acquire a patina over time surround the exterior of the building, representing the strength of those who have weathered the storm by standing up to injustice and inequality throughout history.
With its proximity to the DART light rail and bus lines and utilization of bike racks, the museum encourages the use of alternative transportation. It also features drought-resistant landscaping, and the copper used has an infinitely recyclable life, making it highly reusable. The facility was designed to be LEED-certified. Walter P Moore provided civil and traffic engineering services for the new museum and adjacent 126,500-square-foot parking garage.
