Center For Shaker Studies

Hancock, Massachusetts|19,500 SF

In the company of some of the finest examples of classic Shaker architecture, the Center for Shaker Studies is designed to be comfortable in its historic context while clearly defining new construction from old. Simple building forms and exterior materials complement the existing Village buildings, however, the plan organization, building scale and details are expressive of new public functions inherent in a modern building program.

Developed as two components of a museum campus master plan, the Center creates a revitalized destination for tourists, visitors, and Shaker scholars in the Berkshires. The Visitor Center component enhances the Hancock Shaker Museum’s public mission with new visitor orientation and support, ticketing, interpretive  galleries, teaching/lecture spaces, and a new museum store. The Shaker Studies program supports the Museum’s educational programming with artifact and archival storage, research and manuscript libraries and enhanced curatorial support services for their extensive collections. Site access, permitting  and development were coordinated with state and federal archeological, historic preservation and transportation agencies and grant funding resources.

2001 AIA Maine Award for Excellence