A planned all-glass memorial honoring slain journalists will soon rise in Washington, D.C. Officials from the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation say the site near the National Mall will be the first memorial in the United States to be constructed entirely of glass.
The Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation unveiled the design in mid-September. Congress passed the Fallen Journalists Memorial Act in 2019, enabling the memorial’s construction. The memorial honors journalists who have lost their lives in service. The Committee to Protect Journalists reports that 48 journalists have been killed in 2024 as of Sept. 24, 2024.
The memorial was designed by architecture firm John Ronan Architects, led by founder and principal John Ronan. He says glass was chosen as the project’s keystone to reflect the transparent nature of journalism, which is to shed light into darkness.
“John Ronan’s creative design brilliantly captures the essence of what we hoped this memorial could be,” says David Dreier, chairperson of the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation. “His use of transparent materials to convey themes of clarity and light reinforces the important role that journalists, photojournalists and media workers play in bringing information to light–often in very difficult circumstances.”
The memorial’s design features solid glass elements arranged to form a cylindrical space at the heart of the site. The layout conveys how disconnected facts coalesce to form a journalist’s story. Thanks to technological advances, the memorial will be the first in the nation’s capital made almost entirely of glass. This will ensure visitors have a direct view of the U.S. Capitol no matter where they stand. At night, soft lighting will emerge from the glass, with the brightly lit Capitol dome visible above the memorial’s eastern rim.
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Officials say that the memorial’s layered glass will appear different on all sides of the triangular site. This conveys multiple sides of a story that a journalist must explore to find the truth. The memorial has neither front nor back and can be entered from multiple points. However, all paths lead to the circular Remembrance Hall, suggesting many paths to the truth.
Inside the Remembrance Hall, visitors will be drawn to a circular glass lens in the center of the space inscribed with the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
“The memorial will be a journey of discovery that unfolds slowly, space by space, like a story that casts the visitor in the role of investigative journalist,” says Ronan. “The memorial will be an inspiring place of remembrance which celebrates the First Amendment freedoms upon which democracy is built and honors those who have sacrificed their lives in pursuit of the truth.”
Construction is scheduled for 2026 and will be completed in 2028.
