For much of the early 20th century, the architecture of border control stations — where US customs agents process people traveling in and out of the country — mirrored America's strict stance on immigration. The buildings, like the concrete-and-steel Nogales Port of Entry on Arizona's border, were designed to look bare-bones, sterile, and uninviting.
But there is a growing movement in the architecture community to design border control stations that look more welcoming, in spite of President Trump's promises to start building a 55-foot-high wall "within months."
For the past two decades, the General Services Administration (GSA) has run a program called "Design Excellence," which aims to raise the standard for public architecture, including patrol stations at the two borders. As Citylab's Amanda Hurley noted, the shift largely started under Bill Clinton's administration.
Check out some of the most impressive new stations below.
SEE ALSO: Mexican designers envision a Trump border wall that could take 16 years to build
Located in Minnesota on the Canadian border, the Warroad Port of Entry services approximately 157,000 cars, buses, and trucks annually. A rich, dark cedar covers the facade of the building, which was constructed in 2012.
The wood continues in the interior. Large windows in the lobby and office area give a sense of openness and transparency.
"You need to be cognizant of officers' hyper-awareness, but you also have to provide them with a haven," the station's leading architect, Julie Snow, told the General Services Administration.
Source: GSA
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