The design of the new headquarters treats Armenian culture not as static or fixed, but as a foundation for growth and interpretation. Designers took traditional aspects of the culture—crafts, language, religious architecture—and reinterpreted them through a modern use of steel and glass, stone and wood, and ornament and pattern. The result is a building that captures the forward-looking intent of NAASR’s mission, speaking to the community’s ability to adapt as well as preserve.
Visitors to NAASR are welcomed by a dark walnut front door, hand-carved in Armenia by artist Mels Yeghiazaryan and gifted to the center by Armenian American philanthropists. This unique entrance invites visitors to open the door to learning and community—a modern building reaching back to the homeland.