The Parkland 17 Memorial Foundation, a nonprofit organization, is seeking the public’s opinion on three final ideas for the design of the official memorial dedicated to the 17 victims who were tragically lost in the February 14, 2018, Parkland school massacre. Following a nationwide design competition, the Parkland 17 Memorial Foundation has narrowed the submitted designs from six to three.
“The Foundation, with input from the families of the victims, have identified the final three possibilities for the design,” said Tony Montalto, father of Gina Montalto, Vice Chairman of the Parkland 17 Memorial Foundation and the family liaison. “Once we have input from the public and further input from the families, the design firms will make a formal presentation, and we will award the contract from there.”
The three finalists are:
- Gordon Huether, Gordon Huether Studio, Napa, California: The design revolves around concentric circles, featuring a central fountain with seating encircled by 17 limestone obelisks, each serving as a tribute to a victim. These structures bear the victims’ names and provide a small shelf for visitors to leave mementos. The poem “But for a Small Moment” is intricately engraved into the plaza’s surface. Additionally, shade structures have been incorporated to provide shelter from the sun, featuring laser cutouts that cast unique shadows as the sun moves throughout the day. The memorial is bordered by 17 royal palm trees and an outer seating wall to complement the circular theme.
- Humanity Memorial Inc., Sutton, West Virginia, with EDSA, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Dills Architects, Virginia Beach, Virginia: The 17 Rays of Light is a serene and original representation of light, featuring a tranquil reflection pool and grand scale that pays tribute to their peaceful spirit. It serves as a haven for commemorating and embracing their light. The Sanctuary cherishes their lively existence within the natural beauty and seclusion of 17 private gardens, each infused with emotion and deep significance of light that honors who they were – their light remains with us, untarnished by tragedy, and continues to shine eternally. The 17 unique stars symbolize their irreplaceable uniqueness. Family choices will give rise to distinctive patterns.
- VLC One, Inc., Hollywood, Florida: The memorial will feature 17 angular sculptures, each standing 30 feet tall with water flowing into a reflection reservoir. These sculptures will honor the individual lives lost, while the continuous flow of water represents profound depth, changing emotions, love, sadness, rejuvenation, and transformation. Additionally, each pillar will have a 16-inch cast bronze plaque embedded as a tribute to the victims, with an optional “bas relief” portrait and a QR code for more information. Permanent, tasteful seating will be placed around the memorial, and a separate historical placard will be at the entrance.
The public can visit Parkland17.org/finalists/ to see the final three designs and share input. The memorial will commemorate the victims indefinitely and will be located within a peaceful, tranquil 150-acre preserve connecting Coral Springs and Parkland. To stay updated on progress, visit https://parkland17.org and click on “register for updates” to submit an
email address and zip code.
“This memorial will be a destination, not only for the families but for all of us who want to honor and remember these innocent souls,” says Foundation Chair Michael Moser, a First Responder Representative. “We cannot, however, bring this memorial to life without everyone’s help. It will be the only public memorial, so we ask that companies, organizations, foundations and the public to please donate to this project to ensure its success.”
The families of the victims are unwavering in their wish to see a public memorial constructed to honor their loved ones who were taken too soon: Alyssa Alhadeff, Scott Beigel, Martin Duque Anguiano, Nicholas Dworet, Aaron Feis, Jaime Guttenberg, Chris Hixon, Luke Hoyer, Cara Loughran, Gina Montalto, Joaquin Oliver, Alaina Petty, Meadow Pollack, Helena Ramsay, Alex Schachter, Carmen Schentrup and Peter Wang.
Tax-exempt donations for the memorial can be made at Parkland17.org/donate/.
