City of Mobile unveils design for Africatown Welcome Center
Nov 14th, 2023
Posted in: Press Release
- November 14, 2023 -
City of Mobile unveils design for Africatown Welcome Center
Mobile, Ala. —Earlier this month, community members came together for a first glimpse at the future Africatown Welcome Center after a months-long collaborative design process.
For the past several months, the City of Mobile has been working with a team from Mott MacDonald to gather public input on the direction and design of what will become a beautiful public gathering and educational space in Africatown. The design team and the community have done a fabulous job designing a modern facility that respectfully highlights Africatown's storied history.
Of the three concepts presented to the public earlier this year, the "Monument" style was the preferred option for most community members. That concept centers around a long hall flanked by glass windows and tall columns. Inside the building, the design accounts for educational spaces, small exhibits, meeting rooms and a lobby. Outside, there will be gardens and inviting greenspaces where the community can gather for activities, performances, festivals, and other events.
"Since we first began pursuing a new Welcome Center in Africatown in 2016, the idea was to create a community space that could serve as a first stop for tourists," Mayor Sandy Stimpson said. "Since then, the discovery of Clotilda's wreckage has only amplified the need to give visitors from around the world a meaningful first impression of Africatown. This community-driven design is a great start!"
Once the design process is finalized, the City of Mobile will take bids for a construction contract and start working to bring the vision of the Africatown Welcome Center to life. A digital tour of the facility, created by the design team at Mott MacDonald, is available via the link below.