Coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the Center opening to the public, The First Amendment kicked off the National Constitution Center’s long-term plans to reimagine the visitor experience, the first time since the museum opened in 2003. In 2022, Metcalfe joined the established internal team to offer design expertise from the earliest development stages all the way through fabrication and installation.

The final design was shaped by a shared goal of creating a space that would inspire visitors to linger, explore, and more deeply engage with the depth of the content. The 1,500-square-foot exhibit features more than 20 artifacts highlighting the five freedoms—religious liberty, free speech, free press, the freedom of assembly, and the right to petition—and serves as an example of how the museum is creating new and compelling experiences for visitors of all ages.