In 2000, former Charleston mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. proposed building a museum that would serve as a meaningful space for education, remembrance, and genealogical research for the global slave trade. 23 years and $100 million later, the International African American Museum (IAAM) opened at Gadsden’s Wharf, a point of entry for nearly half of all enslaved Africans in North America. It spans 41,800 square feet and comprises nine thematic galleries, a research center, an administrative office, and a museum shop, all dedicated to providing a unique perspective on slavery and examining Charleston’s small part in a large international network of slavers.
FROM CONSULTING TO PRODUCTION
We started by spending 12 weeks conducting a detailed gallery-by-gallery assessment, exploring fabrication methods, materials, and graphics options, which delivered a more precise pricing and a transition plan. Following the success of the consultation phase, we were awarded the contract for both fabrication and AV system integration of the 38,000-square-foot exhibit space. We then assembled a team of project consultants, technologists, and artisans with extensive experience in high-end museum projects to bring the new and improved vision to life.
