National World War I Memorial and Pershing Park

The design of the new National World War I Memorial incorporates an existing statue honoring General Pershing, with a newly commissioned sculptural wall, reflecting pool, and Peace Fountain. The figurative bronze composition “A Soldier’s Journey” serves as the centerpiece of the redesigned 1.76-acre park. The memorial communicates the search for peace while providing a place of reflection and remembrance.

Surrounded by Pennsylvania Avenue, the site is large enough to allow a transition through four layers of lighting and landscape features that shield the contemplative Memorial from the distractions of the city. By using perimeter berms and layered lighting scales, the Memorial is shielded from street glare, allowing visitors to feel enveloped by a more tranquil environment.

By relocating poles, minimizing fixtures, and integrating with the Memorial’s landscape plan, the lighting design achieves a seamless blend of urban refuge and sculpture park. The lighting solutions for the WWI Memorial exemplify design excellence, bringing innovation and artistry to lighting and raising the bar for what memorial lighting can achieve.