Virginia key beach for decades has been a place where people of African decent went for what has been describe as social freedom during a time when people of color where disenfranchised and considered second class citizens.

The Virginia key beach museum design competition required the open feeling of freedom be translated to the building program and to have international appeal. Although the competition was commissioned in 2005 prior to the implementation of LEED requirements on local laws, the design has incorporated multiple green focused initiatives.