National Purple Heart Hall of Honor

Scope

The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor occupies one of the most symbolically significant sites in American military history, the former New Windsor Cantonment, the final encampment of George Washington’s Continental Army, and the place where the Badge of Military Merit, the predecessor to the Purple Heart, was first established in 1782. As the nation’s premier institution dedicated to preserving the stories of the nearly two million American service members wounded or killed in action, the Hall had outgrown its original facility. New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation undertook a major expansion to transform it into a more immersive, accessible, and enduring national memorial.

Kokolakis delivered the expansion and modernization of the 8,500 square foot National Purple Heart Hall of Honor. The project consisted of a 2,400 square foot interior renovation, a 6,100 square foot addition, and a new outdoor garden and terrace area on a 3.5-acre site. The expanded Hall incorporates 19 program spaces — a welcome gallery, exhibit halls, orientation theater, gift shop, and enhanced educational and interpretive environments — designed to guide visitors through the complete Purple Heart experience using artifacts, interactive displays, multimedia presentations, and personal narratives. A defining architectural feature is the pre-weathered Corten steel rainscreen facade and monumental entry portal, complemented by aluminum-framed curtain wall glazing that visually connects visitors to the surrounding historic landscape. The memorial garden features a custom-fabricated bronze eternal flame, a reflection terrace overlooking the Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains, and five granite benches dedicated to each branch of military service. The build achieved net-zero energy objectives through photovoltaic roof panels, electric vehicle charging stations, radiant floor heating and cooling systems, and solar shading elements.

The project earned the American Architecture Award for Institutional Project and drew praise from the State Parks commissioner, who noted the expanded Hall would become a destination for anyone who wants to understand the true cost of freedom.

Unique Challenges

• Protected irreplaceable historical artifacts, documents, and archival materials throughout active construction using phased demolition sequencing, temporary partitions, conditioned enclosures, dust containment measures, and enhanced environmental monitoring to isolate work areas from sensitive museum spaces
• Delivered the project on an accelerated schedule while coordinating with ongoing operations across the broader historic campus, managing complex integration between new construction, existing facilities, exhibit installations, and site improvements
• Navigated COVID-19 pandemic impacts including workforce availability constraints, material shortages, and supply chain disruptions affecting specialty architectural components and long-lead procurement items through enhanced health and safety protocols and early procurement prioritization
• Managed extensive coordination among fabricators, designers, and installers for the project’s signature long-lead exterior envelope components — including the weathered steel rainscreen façade, custom glazing systems, and solar shading elements — without compromising schedule or design intent
• Coordinated with museum leadership to support temporary and traveling public exhibits while the facility was closed, ensuring the Hall’s educational mission continued uninterrupted throughout construction