National September 11 Memorial Honored with IALD Award of Excellence - Lighting Design by Fisher Marantz Stone

Fifteen award winners representing architectural lighting design projects from seven countries comprise the winners of the 29th annual International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) International Lighting Design Awards, recognized at a presentation held May 10, at the Renaissance Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Of the 15 projects recognized, two entries earned Special Citations, six earned Awards of Merit, and seven earned Awards of Excellence.

In downtown Manhattan, the National 9/11 Memorial opened on the tenth anniversary of the 2001 tragedy. Through collaboration and persistence, a glimmer of solace and peace has surfaced in the midst of a highly bureaucratic and emotionally arresting project that was conceptualized by one, orchestrated by many, and created for all.

"A very powerful installation where light forms a strong contrast to the despair of the dark void," commented one judge on the final result.

After extensive studies and select site visits around Manhattan, the designers were able to dissuade city officials that the initial five footcandle requirement for the plaza was excessive. In the finished project, both the horizontal and vertical illuminance is .5 footcandles. For a project fraught with challenges and restrictions, the lighting vocabulary is relatively simple, as only three fixture types light the project.

Custom pole fixtures, aligned with the landscape grid, feature an up-down lighting component with four T8 lamps behind a stack of prismatic refractors. Humane and gentle illumination of the visitors was the principal challenge. Equally important was to provide adequate vertical illumination for the security cameras. The two fountains, set in the original footprint of the towers, are discrete upon entry. Granite pavers and the rhythmic hymn of cascading water lead visitors to the threshold of the south pool.

Collaborating closely with the manufacturer, over 1,500' of submersible LED luminaires, driven at 24V with an internal water cooling technology, are mounted beneath the waterfall at the base of each pool. The falling water dances in the light, creating a powerful reflection that oscillates between celebration and sorrow.

Lighting design was by Paul Marantz, FIALD; Zack Zanolli; Carla Ross-Allen; and Barry Citrin, IALD; Fisher Marantz Stone. Architect was Michael Arad. Landscape Architect was Peter Walker and Partners.