Cocopah Museum Expansion

Located along the Colorado River near the U.S.–Mexico border, the Cocopah Museum and Cultural Center expansion provides a 1,200 sf gallery and shade structure with a photovoltaic array to support the Nation’s cultural complex. The new gallery stands as an independent building, creating a journey that guides visitors between old and new exhibitions while weaving through outdoor spaces and intimate gardens.

The design draws inspiration from traditional Cocopah dwellings, translated into a simple orthogonal plan and protective flat roof overhang. Materials are rooted in the local environment and cultural traditions: a woven willow lattice recalls riparian vegetation, textured and colored concrete evokes the desert earth, and oxidized steel panels reference iron-oxide pigments long used by Indigenous peoples. Each element serves both symbolic and functional purposes, enhancing sustainability through shading, insulation, and thermal mass.

The expansion honors Cocopah heritage while providing space for its living culture to grow, offering a meaningful connection between past traditions and future generations.