The winning design, by C.J. Howard, Alexandria, VA. (Courtesy image)
Alexandria architect C. J. Howard has won the design competition for the Contrabands and Freedmen’s Cemetery Memorial.
“Mr. Howard has developed a winning design that will be a fitting tribute to those who escaped slavery and will be a lasting memorial for generations to come,” Said Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille.
2nd place winners, Santosh Dhamat, Solvita Marriot, Elizabeth Eubank, Tracy Revis Howard & Revis Design Services Washington, D.C.
The City of Alexandria is pleased to announce the winners of the Contrabands and Freedmen’s Cemetery Memorial Design Competition today. Alexandria architect C. J. Howard won first place honors in the Contrabands and Freedmen’s Cemetery Memorial Design Competition. In addition to receiving a $10,000 first place prize, Howard’s winning design will be used as the framework for a detailed site design with a $1.5 to $2 million construction budget for the Cemetery Memorial. C. J. Howard developed the winning design to “venerate those who are buried at the site, as well as to acknowledge the site’s historical background.”
Over two hundred design submissions were collected from architects, landscape architects, artists, students and the general public. The memorial will honor the 1,800 individuals—who escaped slavery by fleeing to Alexandria during the Civil War—and who are buried in Contrabands and Freedmen’s Cemetery. The three-acre site is located at the southwest corner of Church and South Washington Streets.
The second place winners are Santosh Dhamat, Elizabeth Eubank, Solvita Marriott, and Tracy Revis of Howard & Revis Design Services located in Washington, D.C. The third place winners are Paul Simon and Regan Harrold of Beals and Thomas, Inc. located in Southborough, MA. All design winners will receive a cash award and be recognized at the Alexandria City Council’s regular legislative meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 23.