KELLY Hello my name is Dr. Kelly Zúñiga, CEO of Holocaust Museum Houston. It’s my pleasure to welcome you to our HMH Architectural audio tour. On March 3, 1996, the Museum opened to much acclaim for its unique design and visual impact. Co-designed by architects Ralph Appelbaum of RAA and Mark Mucasey of Mucasey and Associates, the Museum has won several architectural awards. Mark Mucasey returned in 2014 to redesign a 30,000 square foot expansion and renovation effort over a 5 year period. RAA was selected to serve as the new facility’s exhibition designer. Officially reopened to the public on June 22, 2019, the venue is known as a “must see” Museum within the Houston Museum District. NARRATOR From the main entrance, look through the center of the building and notice the steel columns and crossbeams, resembling rail road tracks. MARK My name is Mark Mucasey. I am an architect in Houston, Texas. I was blessed to have the honor of expanding and tripling the facility, in 2019. NARRATOR Architect Mark Mucasey explains the symbolism and significance of this important museum design element: MARK The element of the railroad track in our lobby is really a chasm in the building that we created between the state of Europe before the Holocaust, and the split that happened in Europe in 1939, the split is indicated by this railroad track, which literally cuts a crease across the European, normality. As you enter the building from the outside, those columns get closer and closer together until they pierce the rear garden window and they actually go outside and converge into a single point. This is symbolic of the railroad tracks that would end in the camp. There was no train track leaving the camp. This was a final destination for the Jews and others in the Holocaust. NARRATOR Holocaust Museum Houston’s CEO, Dr. Kelly Zúñiga. KELLY These individuals that were on those rail cars didn't know where they were going. They didn't know for how long. And it's scary. It was very, very scary. And so that, that message, as far as the unknown comes across very, very strongly there. MARK The railroad track for us became an element that woke people up to the incredible change that took place because of the Holocaust. And that piercing railroad track and converging and squeezing of the metal together is a dramatic, experience that a visitor can feel in our building. KELLY I think it really stays with you. It sets the tone for the building because it's so moving. And, I think people remember it after they leave.