World Trade Center Competition

Proposal for the World Trade Center site Competition for the creation of a memorial to the victims of September 11, 2001.

Our proposal for the memorial site can be broken into three elements. These are “The Fields of Rest,” “The Eternal Beacons of Light” and the “Monument to the Unknown Hero.”

1. The Fields of Rest defined by black granite pillars, one for each known lost person, delineate the footprints of the two WTC towers. The fields outline the scar in the land and pay tribute to the place where too many were lost.

2. The Eternal Beacons of light honor each fallen hero’s spirit. As darkness falls, these beacons light the sky from within the pillars in the fields of rest and give each spirit a place within the skyline of the city. On anniversaries and holidays these lights like so many others in Manhattan change color and mark the passing of seasons.

3. The Monument to the Unknown Hero pays tribute to the unidentified fallen heroes. On axis with September 11th Place and set within a reflecting pool and planted garden, the “I-Beam Cross” found in the rubble at the WTC will become a beacon of hope, one united spirit of the unsung heroes.