Columbine Memorial

Columbine Memorial Committee Selects Design Firm to Advance Process

No Date

Fifteen members of the Columbine Memorial Committee heard strategies from three design firm finalists to help create a permanent memorial to the victims of the April 20,1999 tragedy. The three firms were top candidates responding to a request for qualifications issued by the memorial design sub-committee.

Appearing before the committee were the firms Leo Daly, an Omaha, Nebraska design firm affiliated with EDAW of Evergreen; Landplan from the metro area; and DHM Design, also of the Metro area.

According to Bob Easton, Foothills Park and Recreation District director and chairman of the memorial committee, "Each firm had very different presentations, and we’ve selected DHM Design as the firm for the project. We anticipate having them under contract by next week."

DHM Design projects include landscape, architecture, urban design, land planning and environmental planning. As the prime consultant to the project, they have constructed a team involving Bob Smith (DHM) as Project Administrator, Dave Carpenter (DHM) to direct the civic team.

DHM Design experience includes the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Atlantic City, New Jersey; the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Renovation in Keystone, South Dakota; the Denver City Park Rose Garden and Water Feature; and Kuiper Gardens in Aurora, Colorado.

McKeever/Morris experience includes the Oklahoma City National Memorial, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; The Oregon Garden, Silverton, Oregon; Japanese American International Friendship Garden, Kobe, Japan; Thurston Highschool Memorial, Springfield, Oregon.

The design firm will work with the committee to establish the process for completing the permanent memorial. The process will include public input and a target for completion by April 20, 2001.

The memorial committee received over 250 design submissions following the high school shooting. These submissions will be turned over to the firm to sort through for common themes. Easton says, "I don’t anticipate that the firm will select one single design to bring forward, but blend together appropriate elements. They will also be directed by the questionnaire the committee distributed last fall to the students, faculty, parents and surrounding community regarding general concepts for the memorial."