Integrated by Design: Realizing Jahn’s Vision for the Pritzker Military Archives Center

Emerging from the landscape of Sturtevant, Wisconsin, the Pritzker Military Archives Center stands proud as a testament to Jahn’s enduring philosophy of integrated design. Built to accommodate the expanding collections of Chicago’s Pritzker Military Museum & Library, the project brings together architecture, technology, systems, and construction to create architecture of integrity, furthering our firm’s belief that design excellence is achieved only when nothing more can be taken away.

This philosophy came to life through the extraordinary collaboration of architects, engineers, and builders, whose combined expertise and innovation made this complex project possible. The initial design featured a central pavilion flanked by two stand-alone archival storage buildings. But as the program evolved and long-term storage needs became clearer, the team reimagined the strategy. Drawing from our successful experience with below-grade archival storage at the Joe & Rika Mansueto Library at the University of Chicago, we replaced the stand-alone structures with a more cohesive, efficient underground solution—an evolution made possible by a shared vision and trust in proven expertise.

The mission and legacy of the citizen soldier informed not just the building but extended into the landscape. Working alongside Minneapolis-based O2 Design, the design team created a sculptural, living terrain that evokes the historic landform armaments of the northern European theatre in World War II. The center itself is situated on 17.5-acre grounds, framed by red twigged dogwoods that burst into vivid red each fall, a subtle nod to the color of the building itself. This interdisciplinary approach ensured that the site’s symbolism was as thoughtfully integrated as its architecture.

A particularly elegant example of team synergy emerged in the structural design. The perimeter trusses—designed as a bridge-like system supported on pins—posed both a technical challenge and an opportunity. A construction team combining the expertise and creativity of Pepper-Riley Construction adapted the concept into their erection sequence, assembling the trusses on the ground and lifting them into place with precision and grace. The result was a process likened to a choreographed dance, underscoring the power of construction insight and design working hand-in-hand.

The building’s enclosure technology was also a product of deep collaboration. In addition to establishing a distinct architectural identity, it needed to meet strict environmental standards essential for archival preservation. Cyclone Energy Group played a key role in achieving this balance, conducting rigorous energy and UV studies to ensure performance and sustainability. Their analysis allowed the team to eliminate the need for interior roller shades, confirming that less than 1% of UV penetrated the first 12 feet of perimeter glass—dropping to zero beyond that range.

The Pritzker Military Archives Center stands as a testament not only to bold design and innovation but to the power of coordinated effort—where each discipline elevated the others, resulting in a project greater than the sum of its parts. It reflects Jahn’s more than 60-year legacy of design excellence, creating a space that honors the contributions of the nation’s military with clarity, dignity, and purpose.

Learn more about the integration of practices that made the Pritzker Military Archives Center possible: