Memorial. World War I Competition (2015)

Trenches salutes the American men and women who fought a horrific war by evoking the environment in which it was waged – years after the Armistice.

As seen from a short distance, an open park beckons, an oasis of tall grass in an urban setting. Above ground, a flagpole flies the Stars and Stripes, and three statues faces each other – two doughboys at attention, one white, the other black and General John J. Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces, one hand raising his field glasses. As the visitor draws nearer, a sign saying World War I Memorial leads to ramp a below-ground trench Forces, one hand raising his field glasses. As the visitor draws nearer, a sign saying World War I Memorial leads to a ramp and a below-ground trench that unwinds across Pershing Square Park. In illuminated words and pictures, the walls of the trench tell the story of World War I leads to a ramp and a below-ground trench that unwinds across Pershing Square Park. In illuminated words and pictures, the walls of the trench tell the story of World War I – a memorial to the valor of American troops who faced death on the ground from bullets and bombs, from gas and germs, while aerial dogfights streaked the skies above. The story unreels in the words and voices of those who knew it best: soldiers and statesmen, poets and songwriters, a nurse in bronze, the un-heralded and Medal of Honor recipients. Every November 11, a bell tolls at 11. a.m, a reminder of the Armistice that finally ended the Great War.

Emerging from the trench, the visitor returns to the present, safe and secure. Park benches offer an opportunity to relax and reflect.

All is calm. And once again visible: the flag, the doughboys and their general, all still standing watch.

Concept. Louis Nelson  Design. Hai Phung Tran

Order from Chaos commemorates the American men and women who fought a horrificwar by evoking the traditional quadrangle of the military drill fields, hinting for physical order after the Armistice.

As seen from a block away, an open park beckons, an oasis of landscape and gardens on an urban setting. A flagpole flies the Stars and Stripes. As the visitor draw near, a low glowing sign saying World War I Memorial leads to a quadrangle. A sculpture, a single soldier, a doughboy stands at one side of the quadrangle, a Navy nurse is opposite. At the far end another doughboy, this one is black, stands in front of a battle map engraved into a tall wall.

Opposite him, General Pershing stands centered at his wall, one hand raising his field glasses. The two low walls support display panels telling the story of World War I in illuminated words and pictures-a memorial to the valor of American troops who faced death from bullets and bombs, gas and germs, while aerial dogfights streaked the skies above. The story unfolds in the words of soldiers and statesmen poets and songwriters, the unheralded and Medal of Honor recipients. Some are engraved into granite walk connecting the statues.

Visitors relax on benches and the green grass…some walk across the park, savoring a moment of peace from the surrounding traffic. All is calm. At 11am on each November 11th, a bell tolls and we remember that terrible Great War. 

Concept. Louis Nelson.  Design. Virginia Schubert

Global War commemorates the American men and women who fought and died in this Forgotten War, including those individuals from all nations. It honors America’s premier entry as a global leader to bring peace by evoking the environment in which the war was waged… the World.

From a short distance, an open park beckons with a compelling landscape of sculptural pylons. A sign saying World War I Memorial leads to entrances and walkways engraved with poems telling the story of this war’s cost…honoring the valiant individuals who brought peace. Four walls and four statues anchor the memorial; two doughboys, one white, the other black, and a nurse. General Pershing is near, one hand raising his field glasses.

Spanning across the visitor’s path is a World map of granite. Pylons of color, texture and light rise from countries, each counting their lost men and women, military and civilian…26 principle nations interlocked in granite and a world of different colors. Russia’s loss was the greatest of the Allies. Their pylon is the tallest. Germany’s loss is the most for the Central Powers. France’s loss is severe, England and Belgium less. In the Western Hemisphere is America and Canada. Australia and Japan are steps across another ocean. All the nations are here.

The visitor relaxes on benches and the green grass, or strolls across the park, savoring a moment of peace from the surrounding traffic. At 11 am on each November 11th, a bell tolls - and we remember. 

Concept. Louis Nelson   Design. Jobe Bobee

From some Vantage Points, the nine translucent pillars arising from the lush greenery of Pershing Square Park might resemble only a curious arrangement of slabs. However, as you move about, around and through them, emerging view corridors offer changing perspectives. At certain angles, the 40-foot rectangular pillars unmistakably read “W W I”.

Drawing even closer, one sees that these monoliths, as well as the pavement around them, are richly textured with words that evoke War War I: private thoughts and public pronouncements, snatches of song, and lines of poetry, both historical and contemporary, that relieve viewers of having to stand guard over their opinions or convictions, and allows them to access thoughts and feelings they might not otherwise imagine.

Without disturbing most of the park’s landscaping or moving the Pershing Memorial, the abstract nature of the Corian pillars speak to the next generation while honoring the past.

Close by, the city goes about its business, while Pershing Park remains a place for respite and reflection, a destination for tourists and locals, with a series of seasonal events: the poppy patch blooming in spring, the bell ringing on November 11, at 11 am., ice skating in the winter to WW I music, and every evening the columns glowing like beacons - as much a statement about where we are today as how we got here.

Concept. Tucker Viemeister & Louis Nelson. Design. Tucker Viemeister