The Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation (FJM Foundation) has unveiled the four architecture and design teams advancing to the final round of the competition to design the first national memorial dedicated to press freedom and fallen journalists in Washington, D.C.
The Design Team Selection Committee, consisting of prominent design and architecture experts, evaluated 54 expressions of interest, narrowing it down to 12 semi-finalist teams. These teams presented their preliminary concepts in November 2023, leading to the selection of four finalists.
The chosen teams are:
- Höweler + Yoon Architecture from Boston, Mass., known for socially engaged and technologically innovative work.
- John Ronan Architects from Chicago, Ill., recognized internationally for the Poetry Foundation building.
- A team of MOS and HOOD, based in New York and Oakland, Calif., respectively; with MOS Architects specializing in various projects and HOOD Design Studio contributing to the landscape design of the International African American Museum.
- NADAAA from Boston, Mass., acclaimed for cultural projects including collaborations with the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) and Lincoln Center.
Finalists are tasked with presenting more detailed proposals, incorporating site analysis diagrams, contextual framework diagrams, and illustrative site plans in January 2024. The memorial’s location on the National Mall, in direct line of sight of the U.S. Capitol, adds historical significance to the project. The final design team will be announced in spring 2024 following in-person meetings with the selection committee.
FJM Foundation, authorized by Congress in December 2020, aims to commemorate America’s commitment to a free press by honoring journalists who sacrificed their lives in its service.
