Facet

Beyond the Current

The Weeping Time is the largest sale of enslaved people in American history, and it took place in Savannah, Georgia. The event was named after the heavy rain that fell as 436 people were sold and separated from their families. The project tract is a few feet north of the historic horse racetrack on which the sale took place. The slave trade in North America originated with ship travel. Millions of Africans were forced to make an arduous journey across the Atlantic. Ships often carried hundreds of enslaved people and were overcrowded and unsanitary. Humans were packed like spoons inside the ships, sometimes with no room even to turn. The journey was treacherous and hopeless. Enslaved people were on the sea for weeks, knowing their freedom was over. We will never fully understand all of the harrowing experiences they faced, but it all started with the journey to America. 

The design of the building embodies a ship. Different elements throughout the structure's design highlight the anatomy of a ship. Although the journey was horrific, the narrative builds upon the families rising above the tragedies and standing in the sun. The building is surrounded by reflective water to commemorate the lives and struggles of enslaved people. The historical exhibit is underground to create an experience of being subterranean but also referencing the dark, cramped interiors of the transatlantic ships. The entrance to the exhibit space is a staircase with waterfall walls to honor each of the individuals sold in the Weeping Time slave auction. The “weeping” walls also play a role in acoustics to set an ambient mood for visitors. Above ground, the building fosters an environment that draws in natural light to symbolize the advancement of humanity. Exposed steel trusses create a heavy and robust look to portray the strength and fortitude of the enslaved people. A vertical louver system constructed out of white aluminum is placed at different locations and angles to aid in shade from the sun. 
The design of the building embodies a ship. The visitor experience begins underground as if one is entering the section between the cargo hold and the deck of a ship. The upper levels are offices, meeting rooms, and event spaces for organizations and the community to come together and commemorate the past, present, and future. The first floor has an inviting courtyard for people to gather and enjoy the present. The exhibit shares information or specific scenes about different slavery events which have often been overlooked in history. The exhibit's exit is a journey of stepping into the sun and experiencing a moment of freedom as a tribute to individuals who, without a choice, had their lives sold and torn apart. Visitors can experience each part of the building individually or as a whole. The whole building is ADA accessible, with an elevator and stairs reaching each floor. The underground floor is approximately 6,500 square feet, the first level, including the exterior courtyard, is approximately 14,300 square feet, and the second level is approximately 13,100 square feet. The volume's total net is about 34,000 square feet.