We have received so many questions to answer in this, our initial post to the Design and Construction Corner, that we were unable to answer all of them. We are delighted to see that so many are interested in learning more about the design + construction aspects of building the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial. We thank all of you for your interest and hope you'll continue to check in!
How was the designer of the memorial selected?
The Foundation first assembled a committee of design professionals to develop a program of requirements in conceiving a memorial to Dr. King. Then an advertisement went out for all designers interested in participating in a blind international competition. Over 1500 interested designers registered to receive the program of requirements and by the competition’s deadline, the Foundation had received 900 entries from 52 different countries. A panel of international judges reviewed each submission and concluded that the winning design solution was #1403 by ROMA Design Group from
Will this important and historical monument / memorial in any way directly or indirectly, recognize or pay homage to Bayard Rustin who is by some accounts as important to the Civil Rights Movement and the 1963 March on
Congress only gave the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. authorization to build a memorial honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The authorization did not extend to other members of the Civil Rights Movement.
How many workers does it take for this project? And how many female workers do you have? (Teresa, Denver, CO)
At the Foundation’s office in
Will my name be in a roll call book as a Founding Member or will it be etched on a stone wall? (Susie,
The design plan calls for an electronic database to be located in the memorial’s
Why is Dr. King holding a pen in the Stone of Hope? Why is the memorial located on the National Mall? What natural elements are used throughout the memorial? (
Dr. King is holding the pen as a symbol of his message of nonviolent revolution, i.e., “the pen is mightier than the sword”. The memorial is located on the National Mall in
Natural elements are used to underscore Dr. King's ideals of Justice, Democracy, Hope and Love. Water is used in the memorial to recall the theme of Justice; utilized as an essential element that builds on Dr. King's sermons and speeches. Hewn stone with smooth surfaces is used in the memorial to demonstrate Dr. King's faith in Democracy; that the democratic ideals of the Founding Fathers can be realized through struggle and sacrifice. Large trees surround the site with color throughout the growing season, and exemplify Dr. King's ideals of unconditional love and hope for mankind.
Does the memorial have a set of bronze placards with Rev. King’s most inspirational words? (James,
The memorial does not include bronze placards; however the inspirational words of Dr. King will be permanently engraved on the crescent-shaped granite wall extending outward from the
How long did it take you to design the memorial? (
It takes approximately 2 years to design a project of this magnitude. However, the rigorous design approval process is an added but indeterminate component to the timeline.
How important was it to design the memorial while taking into consideration other monuments along the mall? (
It was very important that the memorial design be in harmony with all other monuments and memorials on the National Mall, but be distinctly different and unique in its own right.
Will the memorial be accessible to people with all types of disabilities? (Maria,
Yes, the entire memorial experience will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The entire site is sloped gently to easily allow wheelchair access and we have been discussing the programmatic and technological solutions necessary to accommodate the hearing and visually impaired.
How was the Sculptor of Record chosen?
The Foundation was in search of a sculptor that had significant experience in the design and execution of granite monuments at least 30-feet high, 12-feet wide, and 15-feet deep. The search for both sculptor and granite lead the Foundation across the
Through an online search effort the Foundation discovered an International Stone Carvers Symposium in
Based on the recommendations of many of the sculptors attending the symposium, and his extensive monumental sculpting experience, and creative and technical abilities, the Foundation selected Master Lei YiXin to produce the
For more information, click here.
Will all the granite for the memorial come from
Several aspects of the design solution call for the utilization of domestic granite.
What is the process for the selection of the Design-Build Contractor?
The first step in the process of selecting a design-build contractor involves the identification of major contracting firms with experience in
· Knowledge of the local construction market
· History of minority participation in projects
· Design-Build experience on projects of a similar scale or scope
· Design and Construction experience in working with the National Park Service, the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission
· Bonding capacity of $60 Million
· Experience in the Design and Construction of memorials (within the flood plain) of
Then, the Foundation will invite those eligible candidates to submit a Statement of Qualifications. Once the Foundation has reviewed and assessed the qualification statements, a Request for Proposals will be sent out only to those firms that successfully meet the initial criteria.
Upon receiving the proposals, the Foundation will assemble a Selection Committee of design professionals. The committee will convene and review each proposal’s merit as stipulated within the Request for Proposals. The committee will then make a recommendation of which firm should be awarded the contract, as well as name a first alternate. The Foundation’s staff will then pass the recommendation to the Board of Directors, and upon receiving approval will notify the winning candidate.
For further information regarding this process or to submit a Statement of Qualifications, please contact:
Mr. Marin I. Sabic, AIA, NCARB
Program Manager
JSA + MBI Associates, Inc.
7297A
703.891.0815
703.891.0818 Fax
How much funding will it take to build this memorial?
The total cost to plan, design and construct a living memorial to Dr. King is $100 million, of which we still have approximately $22 million to raise. Everyone can help by donating today online, or by calling 1.888.484.3373.