Work: The Rising: Westchester County 9/11 Memorial

Intertwining stainless steel strands rise 80 feet, reaching upward to the heavens to represent the 112 magnificent lives lost on September 11th, 2001 from Westchester County. The strands emerge from a 60 foot diameter circle of 112 mountain granite stones, each engraved with the name, date of birth and an inscription provided by each family. 

The stainless-steel stands rise together, exemplifying the strength of the Westchester community and the families who lost loved ones. The reflective quality of the stainless steel will change with the light of day, lending a dynamic quality to the structure. 

The Rising invites families and visitors to look back in memory of their loved ones and look forward unified as a community, and provides a place for prayer and reflection. There will be moments when the memorial is full of life and activity, and times when it is empty. As the people of Westchester populate the interior and its surroundings, they become part of the memorial. 

The design process was an exacting and intense collaborative effort of architects, engineers, sculptors, 3D technicians, welders, contractors, government and family members all working to the common goal of honoring their neighbors and loved ones. The Rising was unanimously selected by the Westchester Family Victims and Survivors group as winner of an international design competition. The memorial was dedicated on September 11th, 2006, attended by over 1,000 friends and family members as well as political dignitaries such as US Senator Hillary Clinton, US Representative Nita Lowey and Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano.