Site Plan

This project takes place in East Boston where there is a great need for identity. The decommissioned USS JFK has visited Boston several times throughout its life and seemed more than appropriate to retire there. A pathway around the ship allows visitors to observe from all angles as well as creating a coffer dam to suggest the ship is an artifact and the dam is the pedestal.

Entrance View

The memorial center is a juxtaposition between land, water, and ship. To provide an easy transition between the elements, a large plaza was created in front of the ship and entrance to the building. Steel chains hang from circular beams above to create subtle sounds as a reminder of the sailors who have made the ultimate sacrifice. From here visitors have the option to proceed up a staircase beyond into one of the ship's elevator hangar openings or enter into the memorial center to the left.

Night Time Rendering

Construction

In order to accommodate the aircraft carrier on the site, the bay needs to be deeper for the ship's hull. This excavated bay fill can be placed underneath the pathway in between two retaining walls. This enables the pathway not only to become a coffer dam, but to slope up to the ship's deck so that visitors can walk seamlessly onto the deck.