Overview

Designed as a living monument to the Civil Rights icon, Martin Luther King Jr. Essex County Justice Building is a testament that, more than half a century after his death, Dr. King continues to inspire generations of people to get involved in public service and their communities. His dream of Justice, Freedom and Equality rings just as loud today as it did during his lifetime.

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Role
Creative Direction
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Project
Essex County MLK Justice Building Memorial Installations
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Client
Haskins Interiors/ Essex County/ Comito Associates
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Objective

Create multiple touch points that speak to Dr. King’s legacy in different ways, as well as highlighting the tenets of his belief system through  engaging creative installations comprised of an incredible over-sized timeline, 3 free standing pillars and a video wall of Dr. King’s most memorable quotes/sayings.

Collaborating with interior designer Terri Haskins and architect Duane Dancy, we decided the best approach was to use the main corridor as a vibrant, larger than life timeline in tribute to the legacy and leadership of MLK. Captured within the colorful, multi-dimensional montages are some of the most poignant moments during his civil rights campaign, which culminates in a perpendicular video wall highlighting images and quotes from the timeline in a continuous 7 minute video.

In the adjacent atrium, 3 free standing pillars representing Freedom, Justice and Equality were erected to champion Dr. King’s convictions.

On the 2^nd floor, the connecting corridor walls were used for murals as a visual bridge from the existing Supreme court to the new MLK Justice building. Through the use of arresting and sobering photography in conjunction with some of Dr. King’s most moving quotes, these murals feature the legal and often painful ramifications levied against the iconic leader in his quest for those very principles of freedom, justice and equality.

To create all of this artwork, we partnered with multiple stock photography houses, the estates of MLK and John Lewis as well as the families of civil rights leader Donald Payne Sr. and acclaimed photographer George Conklin. The results are staggering indeed!