An historical first addressing the African American experience

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a historic first. Its narrative is imbued with depths of historic meaning and collective emotion. As the United States’ only institution addressing the African American experience in the context of America’s past, present and future, The National Museum of African American History and Culture uses African-American culture as a lens to help people better understand what it means to be an American and to understand the history of the U.S. as well as giving visitors an opportunity to revel and explore African American history.

A comprehensive approach to the museum's development

We led the national public engagement process, the establishment of general museum and facility requirements, the development of a functional strategy, collections analysis, preparation for collections storage and operations planning.

In 2011, we also provided content development and communications services as part of the winning team of Ralph Appelbaum Associates for the exhibition design for the new museum. In 2012, an additional contract was awarded for concept development for the Resource Library.  Our services also included: Learning Program Plan, Learning Hub Facility Strategy, Interpretive Plan: Children and Youth Experience, Children’s Gallery Analysis.

Since 2022, we served as the evaluator for NMAAHC’s Office of Strategic Partnership’s initiative, the HBCU History and Culture Access Consortium (HCAC), a 5-year pilot program with 5 HBCUs. The HCAC initiative aims to develop a community of practice around strengthening the museums and archives at African American higher education institutions. Lord is currently in Year 4 of a developmental evaluation process that is providing robust data around the initiative’s ongoing impact, as well as recommendations for the future.

Working on a large scale

In 2016, we completed the fit out of its 12 galleries across over 8,000 square metres – including over 180 audio and visual exhibits, 15,000 light features, 10,000 graphic panels and nearly 3,000 objects painstakingly displayed in more than 500 showcases. We completed the fit out of this momentous museum in just 22 months, leading a complex team of specialist contractors and suppliers. The necessity to install exhibits before the museum building was complete called for precise scheduling and careful site management, with commitment, expertise and ingenuity ensuring that the opening of this nationally and globally significant site was not delayed. The museum welcomed more than three million visitors in its first year and is now one of the Smithsonian’s most visited sites.