University of Arizona architecture students will have a hand in creating a monument for Armed Forces veterans in the form of a redesigned Capitol courtyard, the construction of which is expected to begin in the spring.
The man behind the memorial, Rep. Jerry Weiers, R-12, said he made a presentation to University of Arizona officials earlier in the fall about the courtyard project to solicit any help the school could provide. On Nov. 8, a group of landscape architecture students in the school’s graduate program toured the grounds and decided to make the monument a class project.
On Dec. 15, the students will host Mr. Weiers in Tucson and show him their visions of the project.
“They’re going to make a presentation to me on several different ideas, not just one single plan,” he said.
Once a design has been selected, the memorial plans will be sent to Legislative Council, an oversight committee made up of lawmakers, for approval.
The project will be constructed in two phases. First, the flagpole between the House and Senate will be replaced by three flags — U.S., Arizona and P.O.W. — and a monument to Arizona veterans. Once that is complete, the second phase of the project, which is being designed by the students, will get under way.
Mr. Weiers says he wants the courtyard between the Legislature’s two chambers to be a place where people congregate. As such, he envisions benches and shade trees, though he says that he hopes his vision doesn’t influence the student designs. He told them to be creative.
“The worst thing you can do with those people is try to limit them,” he said.
Charlene Ledet, a lobbyist for the University of Arizona, says the school is grateful to be included in the design process.
“We’re excited by the opportunity for our students to do something that’s got the interest of some lawmakers,” she said. “I hope that we’re able to exceed the expectations that they’re looking for.”
Private contributions will fund project
By law, the entire project [H2725 (Laws 2006, Chapter 176)] will be paid for with private contributions. Mr. Weiers says he already has commitments from Arizona companies for about $70,000, more than enough to complete the first phase of the redesign. Though the second phase was initially intended to be funded by the sale of bricks engraved with the names of Arizona veterans or active duty servicemen and women, the bricks’ inclusion in the final design is not set.
Any money left over after the project has been completed will be donated to veterans’ homes, Mr. Weiers said.
“I think it’s one of those full-circle projects… that honors the people who are serving and takes care of the people who have served and can’t take care of themselves anymore,” he said.