Scott Conrad, Renovation Manager and Designer for the Kingdom Project, discusses the new Visitors Center to be built on the grounds of the House of Worship in Wilmette, IL.

Scott Conrad speaks to visitors in the gardens of the House of Worship

Scott has been the Renovation Manager for the restoration work on the Temple over the past five years, and is currently the architect responsible for the design of the new Visitors Center to be completed in 2010.

The main inspiration for the design came from the atmosphere of the Pilgrim House near the Shrine of the Báb. This charming building, built as a gift to the Bahá'ís and 'Abdu'l-Bahá, has not only served as a place for Bahá'ís to gather before and after visiting the Holy Threshold, but also has served as a reception center for visitors and dignitaries.  What I love about the building is that while it is discreet, it still has an identity and can be found and recognized by visitors, which is important. Therefore the Visitors Center design at the House of Worship will also be humble, discreet, and will not compete with the Temple or Gardens, but will still offer a welcome in a building that will be easy to find and remember. 

I  hope that like the Pilgrim House in Haifa, the new Visitors Center will become a collection of memories over time so that when we and our children walk through this structure they will also recount previous visits to the Temple in the past as well as special visitors and guests who have come to the Mother Temple.  I love the main parlor of the Haifa Pilgrim House, for there one can see the benches and couches where Bahá'ís used to gather to await 'Abdu'l-Bahá and the Guardian.  In that room you can feel the heavy presence of memory of talks and stories, greetings of love and unity, and historic events.   The new Visitors Center will also have a main parlor off the entrance that will serve as a place to comfortably gather, meet old friends, and share information with visitors to the Temple who will also be made to feel welcome in the inviting space that will include a fireplace, comfortable places to sit, and even an opportunity to have a cup of tea and a piece of fruit or other snack. 

The other inspiration for the design of the Visitors Center is taken from the singular event of importance on this property -- the dedication of the Temple when 'Abdu'l-Bahá laid the cornerstone.  That day's momentous energy still radiates through this place. The building has characteristics that remind one of the period of the dedication -- the year 1912.  The architecture of the structure will be influenced by the Arts and Crafts and Prairie styles that were very influential and popular at that time.  Many of the structures around the Temple are also built in these styles and date back to that time.

Q: What feeling would you like guests to have as they enter and spend time in this new building?

A: The feeling that I hope first comes to mind as they enter the building is of surprise and welcome.  This is not going to be the atmosphere they were probably expecting, because most visitors centers are institutional buildings that only present displays and information in such a way that a visitor does not feel unique or appreciated.  The new Visitors Center will feel like you are entering a comfortable garden structure similar to a cozy home.  Immediately you will be made to feel welcome and have an opportunity to pause and sit as well as explore at your own pace the rooms and courtyards that offer information, reflection, and hospitality.  It will almost feel as if the flowers were placed in the vases and the tea was warmed in honor of your own personal visit. This is the way pilgrims have been treated at the Bahá'í Holy sites since their inception.  Once our guests feel the love, welcome, unity and hospitality, they will feel confident to explore with an open heart the Visitors Center as well as the Temple Gardens and the House of Worship itself.   In order to hear the music, one needs to tune their ears to the melody that is playing.

Q: In what ways will the new Visitors Center be different from the current one?

A: The main change to the new Visitors Center from the current Visitors Center is that it will be now in a space designed specifically for receiving visitors.  The current Visitors Center is literally built within the Foundation Structure of the House of Worship that was never designed with the intention of being permanently occupied. There is no natural light or windows in the current Visitors Center and very little room to allow guests to pause in comfort.  The displays basically line the walls and the room does not have enough spaces for the activities needed. 

Here are some examples of some of the spaces in the new Visitors Center:

The new Visitors Center will have a Bookstore with a reading room that overlooks an outdoor courtyard with flowers and a fountain.

There will also be a much larger display room that will tell the story of the Bahá’í Faith and the construction of the House of Worship.

There will be multiple rooms for receptions and presentations so that, as an example, a head of state could be given tea, while in the next room a video could be shown to visitors from a college class, while in a third room visiting Bahá'ís from a distant community could be welcomed.

Because the new Visitors Center is mostly above ground, the building will take advantage of the natural light and air available as well as have a very dramatic courtyard in the middle.  This courtyard will have a large glass ceiling to allow you to look out and up to the House of Worship so that even on a cold winter day, you will be able to stop and admire the beauty of the magnificent Temple.  On even the coldest winter day, you can still desire to want to visit the Temple for at the Visitors Center you can pause after your prayers in the House of Worship and sit by a window with a Bahá'í Book or cup of tea and look out over the snow-filled gardens of the House of Worship and meditate.

Q: How will the new Visitors Center help to advance and grow our Faith?


A: I think the new Visitors Center will help the growth of the Faith in numerous ways.  Shoghi Effendi said that you can teach in any way you desire (public meetings, firesides, one on one, etc.) as long as you do it with dignity and love.   The new Visitors Center will finally allow us in a beautiful and dignified space to welcome visitors with love and allow their hearts to be touched by the message of the Bahá’í Faith.

I hope the atmosphere and beauty of the building is such that people will want to return to the Temple again and again with more thoughts and questions, and more chances to go up into the gardens and House of Worship for prayer and meditation.

I cannot wait to see this building’s completion.