In reinforcing a renewed presence for the Filson, the History Center is configured to visually reveal its internal functions to the community as a deliberate architectural contrast to the Ferguson Mansion - capitalizing on the advantages of current construction techniques which allow for non-load bearing walls and large expanses of glazing. Embedded throughout the building are a series of transparent passageways and exhibit spaces that encourage exploration and discovery, while an elevated pedway weaves between the History Center, Carriage House, and Ferguson Mansion. Guided by extensive, contextual research of the Old Louisville preservation district, and inspired by the architectural components of the Ferguson Mansion, the project recalls and re-invents traditional period details. Ornate ceilings, elaborate staircases, carved wood-paneled walls and other elements are reinterpreted with new fabrication techniques that explore proportionality, depth, and material layering. In an abstract reference to the Filson’s historical focus on the Ohio River Valley region, the interior features draw on conceptual precedents such as water droplets, ripples, and refracted surfaces. The project implements numerous sustainable design strategies, primarily focusing on economical and passive approaches that are integrated into both site and building design. Although the client did not request to pursue LEED certification, the project is designed to meet LEED Silver criteria as a minimum threshold. While aiming to achieve a design sensibility that evokes the handcrafted nature of the original historic structures, the perceived complexity of the project is in fact driven by a spirit of rigor, resourcefulness and ease of fabrication.