FAM is set on a 300-acre site on the Oklahoma River just south of downtown Oklahoma City, the physical design grew from Native American concepts of spirituality and the goal of achieving a seamless relationship between earth and building. Image Credit: Johnson Fain

The concept for FAM, honors 39 tribes in Oklahoma today, it is a spiral that begins in the earth and ascends to the heavens. Reflecting the native tradition of a circular world view, the design evolved out of multiple circles suggested by arcs. Image Credit: Manhattan Construction Company

The 75,000-square-foot museum includes the 4,000 square foot FAM Center. Two arcs: the western arc featuring permanent and rotating exhibitions and the northern arc that houses theaters, retail, dining, and other services necessary in modern museums. Image Credit: Johnson Fain

FAM’s location was originally Oklahoma Drilling site #1 for the extraction of crude oil. The project team imagined a story about the site: that the land had been taken from the native peoples, stripped of its elements, and has now been returned to the First Americans, who restored it. Image Credit: Oklahoma Historical Society

For thousands of years, native people have recognized the importance of the solstice. The entire project was designed to align with the cardinal directions and serve as a cosmological clock, commemorating and honoring the special times of equinox and solstice. Image Credit: Johnson Fain

The natural world is at the heart of the First Americans experience, both physically and spiritually. As opposed to a museum conceived around conventional notions of form and sequence, FAM acknowledges the elements of nature: earth, wind, and fire. Image Credit: Johnson Fain

Native Americans can best appreciate the symbolism of the plan in which the four cardinal points, the axes of the summer and winter solstices and the vertical force of a standing person are brought together within the circular court. Image Credit: Johnson Fain

Native Americans can best appreciate the symbolism of the second floor plan in which the four cardinal points, the axes of the summer and winter solstices and the vertical force of a standing person are brought together within the circular court. Image Credit: Johnson Fain

The spiral mound represents the earth and frames Festival Plaza. During the Winter Solstice, the sun sets through the tunnel embedded into the FAM Mound; during the Summer Solstice, the sun sets at the peak of the mound. Image Credit: Johnson Fain

The entry procession starts from the east to greet the rising sun. A stainless-steel sculpture called “A Touch to Above” welcomes visitors upon arrival into the Courtyard. Flanking the entrance to the left side is the FAM Center, which features educational activities. Image Credit: Scott McDonald

The Hall of The People, a 110-foot-tall prismatic glass structure, serves as a starting point for visitors and a central gathering space. Its form is inspired by a Wichita grass lodge and represents the 10 miles per day that native people were forced to walk during their expulsion. Image Credit: Scott McDonald

The Remembrance Walls of Mesquabuck stone were quarried from southeast Oklahoma. These two walls, which are 40 feet high, line a 113-foot-long walkway at the entrance of the building to honor the indigenous people who were forcibly removed from their tribal home. Image Credit: Scott McDonald

The spiral mound represents the earth and nature, the buildings express man-made technologies. The structures are clad in light-colored steel, and will lighten over time. The Exterior corten steel railings will age into a rust color corresponding with the red earth of Oklahoma. Image Credit: Scott McDonald

The FAMstore, and the FAM Theater, feature a stage and 159 retractable seats for performances and special events. The Xchange Theater features a 50-foot-wide by 13.5-foot-tall video wall comprising 191 screens that showcase dynamic programming. Image Credit: Scott McDonald

This space is called XCHANGE THEATER. Here’s information from FAM: There is a repeting video template in this space, utilizing 4 hands forming the X in XCHANGE. Videos uplift the XChange of People, Ideas, Practices, Languages Image Credit: Mel Willis

In the Tribal Nations Gallery symbolism and storytelling are embodied in the architecture and exhibits, helping visitors learn about six themes of Native lives: Spirituality, Community, Sustenance, Culture & Artistic Expression, Alliances & Conflict, and Law & Government. Image Credit: Mel Willis

This space is called THE MEZZANINE GALLERY featuring WINNIKO: Life of an object which is a collection of objects on loan from the Smithsonian National Museum. There are also & newly commissioned FAM objects in this exhibit. Image Credit: Mel Willis

This is a portion of the TRIBAL NATIONS GALLERY currently featuring the Oklahoma Exhibition. It is a map of Oklahoma for children to locate the tribes per county. Image Credit: Mel Willis

The curves in the geometry references the non-linear thinking of the First Americans; In fact, there is a belief that right angles trap the spirit and therefore should be avoided. The project is steeped in symbolism and remembrance. Image Credit: Mel Willis

The architecture is intentionally crafted to symbolically reinforce the historical context and the events that have shaped history, while also providing a neutral canvas for visitors to experience the artifacts, exhibitions, and historical narratives in a new way. Image Credit: Johnson Fain

Three “sky terraces” (Sun, Moon, Stars) are located along the spiral mound walk and are set back within the building envelope, offering views of the Oklahoma River and Downtown Oklahoma City. Image Credit: Scott McDonald