Chronicle
And the Challenge of De-Mystifying History
Step into your past…
What do you do when a people start to forget their own history?
When events so pivotal to their very existence are seemingly lost to time?
When a sacrifice and a legacy is no longer properly recognized?
It sounds like it’s time to remind them.
Chronicle (Fall 2024)
Chronicle is designed as the educational core of Monocacy Monument Park, a site commemorating "The Battle that Saved Washington".
Monocacy Monument Park is a large-scale memorial built in remembrance of the Battle of Monocacy, a pivotal but oft-overlooked part of the American Civil War.
Other features of the site include a garden walking trail, a visitor's center, and a re-creation of a covered wooden bridge that served as the Union's main defensive position during the battle.
The covered bridge is designed to provide guests with views of nature, as well as the monument line that points towards Washington DC, a constant reminder of what the Union fought so hard to preserve.
The first floor of the Chronicle is divided into two distinct wings. The right side is dedicated to historic preservation of the site and its artifacts, with a mid-size auditorium for presentations at the end.
The opposite wing of the Chronicle is home to a prominent multi-purpose room, with large guillotine walls that can be adjusted to open the room up in fair weather. This is done to connect the building to the beautiful surrounding landscape of Frederick, MD.
The second floor of the Chronicle contains office space for park employees, a lounge, a library and a furnished green roof.
The separate wings of the building are tied together by an extra-tall lobby with a lengthy clerestory window and stunning wooden supports.
The physical tie between present within the building serves as a reminder of how the people and nature of Frederick are forever bound together by the Battle of Monocacy.
The angled exterior walls on the East and West sides of the building give it the appearance of leaning into the approaching path, and the center of the site overall.
The educational wing of the building is further divided into multiple levels of gathering and privacy, depending on how an individual best learns and reflects.
Large areas of glass make-up the majority of the front facade, lightening up an otherwise tall and imposing structure.
Ceiling height and light penetration is staggered throughout the building to create different ambiences for the variety of programming.
A focus on integrating natural, local materials effectively ties the Chronicle into the landscape that it is also meant to highlight.