Rehabilitation Expands Community Space at Arab American National Museum

posted on: Sep 17, 2013

The nation’s only museum focused on the lives and contributions of Arab Americans is increasing its footprint along Michigan Avenue in Dearborn, Michigan, USA, amid the largest concentration of Arabs outside the nations of the Arab World.

The Arab American National Museum (AANM) will rehabilitate and occupy the former Zamboni Room bar and Dynamic Mortgage office immediately east of the Museum. Both spaces have been vacant for several years and are considered blighted; they will now comprise a 4,200-sq.-ft., single-story expansion of the existing 38,500-sq.-ft. AANM, which opened in 2005.

The rehabilitation is being funded with approximately $385,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Early architectural renderings of the rehabilitation project are currently being adjusted to reflect changes requested by the City of Dearborn’s Zoning Board of Appeals; new renderings will be available for viewing with a few weeks. The project’s general contractors are Mike and Alina Hammoud of Vision Construction, based in Dearborn.

Designed to accommodate a variety of uses, the new space will allow the AANM to expand programming by artists and performers. It will also house collaborative projects and ongoing partnerships between the AANM and local and national cultural institutions, and offer community members a place to gather or just relax and be a part of the life of the Museum, says AANM Director Devon Akmon.

The rehabilitation of these two properties represents Phase One of a two-phase AANM expansion; this first phase will be completed later this fall, while the second phase is still in the planning stages, says Lina Hourani-Harajli, business operations director for Museum parent organization ACCESS.

The Arab American National Museum documents, preserves and presents Arab American history, culture and contributions. It is a project of ACCESS, a Dearborn, Michigan-based nonprofit human services and cultural organization. Learn more at www.arabamericanmuseum.org and www.accesscommunity.org.

The Arab American National Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It is a proud Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. and a founding member of the Immigration and Civil Rights Network – International Coalition of Sites of Conscience.

The Museum is located at 13624 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI, 48126. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday, Tuesday; Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Admission is $8 for adults; $4 for students, seniors and children 6-12; ages 5 and under and Museum Members, free. Call 313.582.2266 for further information.