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VIRGINIA BEACH — For the first time since the planning of the Virginia Beach 5/31 Memorial began, the public can view and weigh in on two final concepts for the design.
Both concepts aim to honor the 12 victims of the 2019 mass shooting in a serene park setting. One design features winding, interconnected pathways around multiple spaces for reflection, while the second includes a walkway that runs alongside a garden and culminates with a memorial wall.
A committee tasked with recommending the final design is seeking public feedback through an online survey. It’s available at SpeakUpVB.com and will be open through March 23.
The survey includes questions about the two design concepts by from Dills Architects with SWA and RHI with Kirkland Studio that would transform approximately 1.3 acres of city-owned land into a memorial park.
Dills Architects is based in Virginia Beach, and SWA was the lead designer for the Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial, which honors the victims of a mass shooting in Connecticut. The team’s concept for the Virginia Beach 5/31 memorial includes two granite walls with timelines representing the 12 people who died. It also includes a grove of trees that pays homage to the survivors and a large “hero” tree dedicated to the first responders.
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“As the entry space of the memorial grounds, the Survivor’s Grove greets and invites all visitors into this place of remembrance and healing,” the design plan says.
RHI is based in Alexandria and artist Larry Kirkland of Kirkland Studio has created large scale public art for several national memorial projects. The team’s concept includes a path through the forest that leads to a V-shaped “room” framed by 12 engraved glass panels with water cascading down the surfaces on two sides honoring each of those killed.
“This room becomes a sanctuary for families, friends and other visitors,” according to the design.
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On May 31, 2019, a city employee killed 12 people and wounded four others before police killed the gunman inside Building 2 at the Municipal Center.
One of the memorial project’s goals is to create a serene setting for quiet reflection and contemplation while acknowledging the tragedy.
“Fellow city employees, everybody that was there that day, everybody that worked in that building, everybody that has a tie to that building, my hope is that they give us their feedback,” said Brian Ricardo, a member of the 5/31 Memorial Committee, at a meeting earlier this month.
The committee members have recommended using city-owned land next to a pond near the corner of Princess Anne Road and Nimmo Parkway. Parking is already available at the site.
The survey also includes open-ended questions about the elements of each concept. There’s also an opportunity to respond with concerns about the designs.
The 5/31 Memorial Committee will meet March 29 to review the survey responses and will make a recommendation to City Council in April.
Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com