US firm Jahn has completed the Pritzker Military Archives Centre, providing the institution with a new gallery and 1,400 square metres of archival space.

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Tom Rossiter

Relocating its operations from Chicago, Illinois, to Somers, Wisconsin, Jahn has completed a new home for the Pritzker Military Museum & Library.

Somers is a rural village found around 30 miles from Milwaukee (which is located north of Chicago) in Kenosha County. Envisioned as a space prioritising flexibility and progressive design, the 1,400-square-metre Centre provides expansive exhibition and archival storage space. The building has been positioned within the scenic landscape of Kenosha County and aims to strengthen public appreciation for military history, highlighting the significant role of citizen-soldiers, and foster a deeper understanding between the armed forces and the communities they serve.

Within the eye-catching red structural trusses is a range of documentation and artefacts from those who have fought for the US military, with most objects coming from the World War One and World War Two.

“We are proud to have been part of the collaborative team that brought our client’s vision for the Pritzker Military Archives Centre to life,” said Evan Jahn, president of Jahn. “From start to finish, our design has been shaped and informed by our shared commitment to the Centre’s mission of learning from past conflicts so we can help prevent future ones.”

The Centre is defined by a 36-foot structural grid which supports 390-foot trusses that act as loadbearing walls and stabilising elements. The cantilevered roof frames an outdoor exhibition space, serving as a dramatic entrance to the building, echoing an approach to the typology by DGT Architects as seen with its Estonian National Archives in Tartu.

Inspired by the form of World War II-era landing craft, the Centre’s structure is framed in exposed steel painted a vibrant red. High-performance glass cladding envelops the building, while a partial-height glass partition offers visitors a glimpse into the curatorial and archival workspaces, providing a rare insight into the process of historical preservation. The vast, open interiors provide optimal working conditions for staff and a compelling environment for visitors.

The new Centre sits within a 17.5-acre site, of which less than four per cent of the total area has been used for building on. Doing so has preserved the site’s natural landscape, which is enhanced by walking and cycling trails, picnic areas, and pathways leading to a wetland reserve.

Rainwater harvesting has been embedded to the building and site in order to irrigate the surrounding land, while a 50,561 kWh solar field has been added to power the complex.

Speaking to AT about the project, Philip Castillo, managing director at Jahn, added: “My colleague, the late Helmut Jahn, always said that in architecture, perfection cannot be achieved until there is nothing left to remove. I believe our design for the Pritzker Military Archives Centre realizes this concept.”

“When we embarked on this journey, we wanted this building to be rough and tough like a piece of military equipment, the structure with its exposed welds and fasteners attest to that toughness, the discipline of the refined and elegant enclosure and the colour red, the colour of courage. All of this could not happen without the dedication and respect of our client, the contractor and our team of architects and consultants who all shared a common vision to make this building the best it could be and a testament to the mission of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library.”

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