2001 - West Virginia Medal of Honor Recipients Memorial Plaza, Hazelton, WV

Located on Interstate 68 at the gateway from Maryland into West Virginia, the West Virginia Medal of honor Recipients Memorial Plaza greets visitors with a structure designed to mesh with the rustic surroundings. Designed by Alpha Associates, Incorporated, this 7,700 square foot structures uses West Virginia native materials and manufactured products as a central design theme. The building has steeply sloped, metal-clad roofs evocative of West Virginia’s hills. Exposed heavy timber framing, ledge rock stonework and rough-cut cedar siding are used both inside and outside of the building as a symbolic reminder of the beauty and ruggedness of the State’s rustic environment.

Meant to inspire a sense of space and light, the building features a 180 degree view to the west through panoramic windows. A soaring central tower, topped with a custom designed West Virginia shaped weathervane, brings sunlight into the building.

The interior of the Welcome center consists of an information desk, public restrooms, vending, and an arts-and-crafts display area. A state of the art, multiple-monitor, computerized theater with multi-media presentation capabilities is also included.