Frank Gehry's updated design for a new Dwight D. Eisenhower memorial in Washington, D.C., has been approved by the Eisenhower Memorial Commission, reports the Washington Post.
The commission voted unanimously to approve the $110 million project, which has been gestating for 14 years and has been the subject of a fair amount of controversy, including vocal objections by some members of the Eisenhower family. The memorial will be built across the street from the National Air and Space Museum, a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol.
To win the commission's approval, Gehry tweaked the design of statues depicting Eisenhower as a young man, a World War II general, and president. A bas relief that had been removed from the design was restored, and excerpts from Eisenhower's celebrated Guildhall Address—delivered in the wake of the allied victory in Europe—will also be included.General P.X. Kelley, who chairs the commission's advisory board and who helped oversee development of the Korean and WWII memorials, called the updated design "spectacular."
Gehry offered prepared remarks before the commission, saying he has "spent the last four years immersed in Eisenhower's words, and the words of those who have shaped how history will define him." The architect said that new imagery, including the D-Day landing at Normandy and Eisenhower signing the Civil Rights Act of 1957, was added in part to respond to concerns by family members and other critics.
Related Stories
| Jul 19, 2012
BIM finally starting to pay off for AEC firms
In surveying Giants 300 firms about BIM, we went right for the jugular: Is BIM paying off—through cost savings, higher quality, or client satisfaction? Here’s what they told us.
| Jul 19, 2012
Contractors finally ‘moving off the bottom’
C and CM Agent + PM Giants 300 Firms also taking steps to improve project efficiency.
| Jul 19, 2012
The best states for a construction job
The top anticipated engineering and skilled labor shortages according to a survey of 2,223 construction industry professionals.
| Jul 19, 2012
Suffolk Construction launches subcontractor development series
Professional certificate program to provide core construction management skills to disadvantaged, minority, and women business enterprises.
| Jul 19, 2012
Construction begins on military centers to treat TBI and PTS
First two of several centers to be built in Fort Belvoir, Va. and Camp Lejeune, N.C.
| Jul 18, 2012
U.S. engineering firms set sail for foreign ports
Other E/EA Giants 300 firms are just dipping their toes into foreign waters, still looking for international business but choosing not to establish additional offices.
| Jul 18, 2012
Architecture giants spreading their wings
A/AE Giants 300 rankings reveal firms branching out globally, merging, adding services.
| Jul 18, 2012
Green expert Kats joins GreenWizard as an advisor
Kats' role is to help further expand GreenWizard’s impact in the sustainable construction industry.
| Jul 18, 2012
Construction employment stagnates in June
Lack of hiring in construction combined with job growth elsewhere threatens to create skilled-labor gap once contractors are ready to hire again.
| Jul 18, 2012
Legat & Kingscott relocates architecture/interior design office
Move enables the architecture/interior design firm to better serve its expanding clientele.