Great Barrington — Architectural firm Clark Green + Bek (CGB) has partnered with the W.E.B. Du Bois
Center for Freedom and Democracy (DFC) to share street-front space at 309 Main Street. By dedicating the building’s prime frontage to the DFC, the firm offers a new public venue for education and community engagement in the hometown of W.E.B. Du Bois.
“We saw a chance to bring more than just architecture to Main Street,” said CGB Principal Jacob Bek. “Our new location has a prominent storefront, and we wanted to use that visibility to support the Du Bois Freedom Center’s important mission in the Berkshires.”
The arrangement provides the DFC with space for its executives, fellows, and administrative staff, along with archive storage and a public exhibition area, as the new W.E.B. Du Bois Freedom Center is being built at the Clinton A.M.E. Zion Church site at 9 Elm Court, designed by architects Clark Green + Bek. The timing coincides with two significant developments: the appointment of Dr. John Lloyd as interim executive director and the upcoming eighth annual Du Bois Legacy Festival, taking place February 22 and 23, 2025, throughout Great Barrington. The space will serve as both an information center and gallery, open to the public by appointment and during special events. It represents a continuation of both organizations’ long-standing engagement with the Berkshires community.
