Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

McKissack was the Architect of Record and provided overall project management for the memorial. Work included: Architecture Landscape architecture Geotechnical engineering Stormwater management and sediment control Roadway realignment Presentations to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, National Capital Planning Commission, and National Park Service Subsurface investigation Hazardous materials testing The memorial evokes the memory and spiritual presence of Dr. King. It was conceived as an engaging landscape experience utilizing natural elements. The memorial honors not only a great man, but the values that empowered his leadership. Natural elements—stone, water, and trees—are used to underscore the themes of democracy, justice, hope, and love. At the main entry, two stones are parted and a single stone pushed forward, appearing as the missing piece of what was once a single boulder. On one side, the theme of hope is presented, with the text from King’s 1963 speech cut sharply into the stone.