9/11 Memorial at Spring Park
343 firefighters from the New York City Fire Department died from the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, and each of them were honored this year at the opening of the 9/11 Memorial at Spring Park in Fort Collins, CO. A 3,059-pound steel I-beam from the wreckage was gifted to the Poudre Fire Authority in honor of their assistance at Ground Zero and this relic is the centerpiece for the solemn memorial. After careful vetting of subcontractors, the Art of Concrete was hired as the decorative concrete trade partner for this remarkable site.
Honoring The heroes of 9/11
The Art of Concrete partnered with GH Phipps the City of Fort Collins to help craft this hallowed space and furnish the concrete elements of this memorial. The flatwork surrounding the beam is a warm colored sand finish concrete that helps add to the peace of the setting. Leading up to the beam are bands of colored micro-topping with flecks of shimmering steel and sand to represent the shattered towers and help draw visitors and eyes to the beam. Dark yet subtle concrete steps embrace the perimeter leading to the memorial on one side. A seat wall provides strong solace with an unassuming uncolored smooth trowel finish that breaks for the micro-top bands to cut through. The wall hugs the courtyard and gives space for quiet contemplation. But the most symbolic part of this new memorial is the 343 cast-in-place pavers – representing each of the fire fighters’ lives lost. Each paver was individually formed and cast-in-place in the same warm, integrally colored sand finish concrete. They appear to shatter away from the I-beam in the center of the plaza – a solemn reminder of the brave fire fighters lost that fateful day.
The 9/11 Memorial project had a modified design-assist approach, with all involved working to bring the project within budget while hitting critical milestones, one of which being the ribbon cutting ceremony. The Art of Concrete worked hand-in-hand with GH Phipps to power through inclement weather and find solutions to grade issues. We hit our milestones and the ribbon cutting ceremony occurred on schedule. It was an appropriately dreary and rainy day of remembrance for those lives will never be forgotten. Working with the Poudre Fire Authority, the City of Fort Collins and GH Phipps on this important project took the entire team listening and working together to have this installed correctly and sensitively