World’s premier infrastructure consulting firm AECOM recently participated in the dedication of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial, which it designed in a joint venture partnership with Gehry Partners. The memorial was commissioned by Congress in 1999 and is the first national presidential memorial constructed in the 21st century. The contract was awarded to the joint venture in 2010 and final design services were valued at more than $29 million.

The four-acre memorial precinct includes a centrally located, large-scale stainless-steel tapestry designed by Gehry Partners, a visitor services center, and green space designed by AECOM, including more than 150 trees, decorative plantings, and ground cover. Additional features include multi-faceted stormwater management, snow melt, and rainwater harvesting and reuse systems.

Officially opened to the public last month, the memorial features innovative and sensitive commemorative elements designed by Gehry Partners. Leading the design for AECOM was distinguished landscape architect and former AECOM chief innovation officer, Joseph E. Brown, and his design partner, Roger Courtenay.

The Eisenhower Memorial adjoins promenade and public streetscapes to create an enduring and memorable addition to the great parks and open spaces of Washington, D.C. The Gehry-AECOM team also designed the DDOT required transportation elements, which included street lighting, traffic signs and signals, and crosswalks. The joint venture is currently managing the memorial’s submission for LEED certification.

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission was created by Congress in 1999 by Public Law 106-79. The Commission’s congressional mandate was to establish an appropriate, permanent national memorial to Dwight D. Eisenhower. The enabling legislation dictated that a memorial would be created to perpetuate Eisenhower’s memory and his contribution as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during World War II and as the 34th President of the United States.