being — Annapolis, MD

Guardians of the First Amendment Memorial

The Guardians of the First Amendment Memorial was conceived as a response to the shooting on June 28, 2018 that took the lives of five journalists of the Capital Gazette newspaper.

Moody Graham was asked by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee to design a memorial to commemorate the lives of Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith, and Wendi Winters who were murdered in their office. A site in the center of Annapolis, Maryland, near the Market House and City Dock was suggested. The design narrative came into focus after a meeting with the Baltimore Media Group, the owners of the Capital Gazette: Journalists represent the community and work as guardians of the First Amendment, including freedom of the press.

Images by Allen Russ

Landscape Architecture Photographs – Washington DC, Maryland, MD, Virginia, VA

Existing Conditions

The City of Annapolis understood the importance of the Memorial to commemorate the lives of the journalists and what they stood for. A prominent site on city-owned land near City Dock was offered. The site is easily accessible and visible to the citizens of Annapolis and visitors.

Aerial context plan locating the Guardians of the First Amendment Memorial in downtown Annapolis.

Close aerial plan with the memorial site outlined beside Compromise Street, Annapolis.

Existing conditions at the memorial site: brick paving, a bench and a low wall.

The Annapolis site before construction of the Guardians of the First Amendment Memorial, with mature trees and parking.

An old moss-covered brick retaining wall on the memorial site in Annapolis.

A Memorial Woven into the Fabric of Annapolis

Moody Graham studied the scale and texture of historic Annapolis for design precedent and inspiration. The material palette, plant selections, bench specification, and project details were considered as a contemporary layer laid over the 1708 city.

Concept

Site plan for the Guardians of the First Amendment Memorial, showing the memorial, rain garden and tree planting on Compromise Street.

The Grove

The Memorial consists of a grove of trees and columns which sit within a curved brick wall. Columns representing the journalists metaphorically guard the First Amendment. Bald cypress trees were selected for their seasonal variation, ability to withstand flooding, and rich texture.

Site plan for the Guardians of the First Amendment Memorial showing the memorial plaza and rain garden.

The Columns

The columns have a rough thermal finish at the base, transitioning to a honed finish at the top. There is one column for each of the journalists who were victims of the shooting. The columns are part of the grove. The journalists are guarding the First Amendment for the community.

Plan of the memorial with the curved brick wall and five column positions marked.

The Wall

Garden walls have been a part of the Annapolis landscape since the 18th century and up to the present. There are many different designs and heights. The original walls defined garden spaces. A wall at the Paca House (1760, National Historic Landmark) was used as a precedent for the cap of the curving brick memorial wall. The wall was designed with a curve to direct attention inward and provide a place of reflection.

Approach

Archaeologists excavate the Annapolis memorial site before construction begins.

Archaeology & Construction

Moody Graham worked with a team of Archaeologists to ensure no artifacts were damaged during excavation. A helical pile technique was implemented to mitigate the poor soil conditions and withstand flood risks due to climate change and rising sea levels along the Annapolis waterfront.

Materials

The material palette was kept simple: granite, brick, and gravel. Nuance in the design was achieved through incorporating multiple granite finishes, affecting the color and texture. The brick wall is a typology consistent in the landscape of historic Annapolis.

Section rendering of the memorial showing the granite columns, brick wall and stormwater infiltration beneath the plaza.

Stormwater Sensitivity

The site is susceptible to flooding. The plant palette includes Bald Cypress, and rain loving perennials, sustainable in wet conditions. Crushed stone paving around the columns allows drainage to flow through, and drainage at the perimeter of the memorial connects to an on-site bioretention garden.