Realizing an artist’s vision through the creation of a specialized landscape
In 2016, the New York State Office of the Governor determined that a monument recognizing the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community should be erected. An LGBT Memorial Commission was formed to oversee an art competition which would result in a memorial to honor the fight for equal rights and acknowledge victims of hate, intolerance, and violence. The Governor’s Office selected a site in Hudson River Park with sightlines to the river and the Statue of Liberty beyond, and the winner of the memorial competition, Anthony Goicolea, developed a concept for siting nine sculptures (to be fabricated in bronze and made to resemble granite boulders) in a circular formation just off the existing park esplanade.
As part of an existing contract with New York State Parks, Stantec was contracted to work closely with Mr. Goicolea and the Hudson River Park Trust to realize the artist’s vision and to finalize schematic design and construction documents for the site. Stantec produced a series of concept layouts which took into consideration existing site conditions and which tested various pavement, planting, and lighting opportunities. Final plans, completed over an accelerated schedule from August to December 2017, resulted in an intimate design that makes use of custom granite plank pavers, a stabilized gravel system, mass plantings of ornamental grasses and panels of turf. The nine sculptures fabricated by the artist were carefully located, five of which include custom fiber optic lighting connections that allow light to be transmitted through prismatic glass bands embedded in the bronze castings.
In addition to providing site design services (project management, landscape architecture, and civil/structural/ electrical engineering), Stantec provided extensive assistance to New York State Parks and the Hudson River Park Trust throughout the construction phase, up until the formal unveiling of the finished monument.
LGBT Memorial
Shortlisted project in the Built-Small category of the 2020 WLA Awards
Landscape Architect:
Stantec
Anthony Bellomo Project Manager New York, New York
Donna Walcavage, Principal-in-Charge, New York, New York
Amy Seek, Lead Designer, New York, New York
John Whalen, Landscape Architectural Designer, New York, New York
Client: New York State Parks/Hudson River Park Trust
Photography: Joshua Simpson
