WASHINGTON, D.C., September 19, 2018 – The Global War on Terror (GWOT) Memorial Foundation, the congressionally-designated non-profit foundation tasked with organizing, fundraising and coordinating efforts to build a new memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., today announced Winstanley Architects & Planners (WA&P) as the Executive Architect for the project.
In this role, WA&P will manage and oversee the 24-step process required by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) and National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission (NCMAC) to design and build a memorial in Washington, D.C.
“Significant commemorative work such as this memorial require a well-laid roadmap to capture the purpose and vision of the project as well as move through necessary government approval processes,” said Michael Winstanley AIA AICP, Founding Principal of WA&P. “Utilizing our multidisciplinary approach and drawing on our many years of experience working in Washington, D.C., we look forward to collaborating with the GWOT Memorial Foundation to guide the planning and development of this unique and historic memorial.”
Over the months ahead, the GWOT Memorial Foundation is focused on advocating for land within the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The foundation and Winstanley will collaborate to gather input from the veteran community and the public to ensure the memorial pays proper tribute to GWOT veterans and their families – and is a true reflection of the American people.
“While the process to build a memorial is linear, we’re enlisting WA&P to collaborate with us in thinking about the bigger picture. With limited available locations on the National Mall, it is vital to demonstrate the scale and impact of the GWOT and a memorial in its remembrance,” said Michael “Rod” Rodriguez, president and CEO of the GWOT Memorial Foundation. “The conflict is filled with a collection of unique experiences by Americans across multiple generations and diverse backgrounds. Our next priorities as a foundation are to educate, encourage dialogue and listen to the voices of our country to ensure the memorial reflects the American people. WA&P will play a key role in that process.”
WA&P is uniquely suited to this assignment. From its origins, the firm has utilized a multidisciplinary approach of architecture and planning critical to assisting the Foundation. Additionally, as the Project Director for the NCPC Memorials and Museums Master Plan, Mr. Winstanley has a keen understanding of the opportunities and nuance of site selection in the nation’s capital.
Once a site is selected and approved, the GWOT Memorial Foundation will host a design competition, where artists from around the country can submit designs that evoke the themes discovered, including those of endurance and sacrifice on a global and multi-cultural scale in America’s longest war.
To learn more about the GWOT Memorial Foundation or to donate, visit gwotmf.org or follow the foundation on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.