Memorial Garden
Date of Completion: 2007
Building Area:
46,617 gross square feet
Contractor:
City On-Call
Mountain West Golf Scapes
TLC
Artist:
Jesús Moroles
“We seek to honor the veteran without glorifying the war.”
This statement introduced our concept for the New Mexico Veterans’ Memorial Design competition conducted by the City of Albuquerque. The design team included landscape architect, G. Robert Johns, ASLA, and sculptor, Jesús Moroles, and allowed a collaboration that enriched the program and design. Numerous City agencies and Veterans’ groups continue to be active participants in the planning and programming of the Memorial.
Our winning design included a memorial garden, which is a labyrinth of distinct smaller gardens commemorating the events that all veterans share: “The Call,” “The Preparation,” “The Battle,” “The Word from Home,” “The Conversations,” “The Fallen Friend,” and “The Homecoming.” Many veterans’ stories are told at this site through the Memorial Gift Program. With each phase that is built, the project becomes more complete and more representative of the community of which it is a part.
This project will always be one our favorites, not only for the time and passion Cherry/See/Reames Architects has invested in it, but because of all the people we have worked with to bring it into being. It is an idea becoming a reality through time.