Eisenhower Memorial

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission was created by Congress in 1999 by Public Law 106-79. The Commission’s congressional mandate was to establish an appropriate, permanent national memorial to Dwight D. Eisenhower. The enabling legislation dictated that a memorial would be created to perpetuate Eisenhower’s memory and his contribution as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during World War II and as the 34th President of the United States.

The memorial is located on a four-acre urban site, which sits at the base of Capital Hill in the heart of the nation’s capital. It includes a one-of-a-kind stainless steel tapestry depicting the peacetime beaches of Normandy; large stone-clad columns; central bronze sculptures; greenspaces that contain more than 150 trees, decorative plantings, and ground cover; and a 5,619 square foot building that houses a retail bookstore, park ranger station, public restrooms, and support spaces.

A key element that contributed to LEED Gold is the memorial’s collection and reuse of rainwater. It was determined early on that a cistern would be required to comply with Washington D.C. stormwater regulations in addition to serving as a water storage for irrigation and public restrooms. In order to right-size the cistern, multiple engineering disciplines were coordinated to review the water reduction goals. Through this effort, the project team was able to design a 97,000-gallon cistern that allows for a 97% reduction in potable water while maintaining the landscape irrigation and public restroom flushing, reducing the burden on Washington D.C.’s water supply and complying stormwater regulations. All water for the flush fixtures is provided by reclaimed rainwater and HVAC condensate, which is stored and treated onsite.

In addition, during the memorial’s construction, careful consideration was given to managing waste by diverting 92% of construction waste from area landfills. Purchased building materials contained 14% recycled content and 27% of materials were acquired locally.

Walkability of the project was a strong driver in its design. The memorial is capable of handling large crowds across its four acres and careful consideration was given to allow visitors the time and space needed to take it all in. The site maintains its walkability through its attention to the placement of sidewalks, trees, and landscaping elements to keep pedestrians separated from vehicles. Additionally, there is no vehicle access and the memorial is located close to public transit – an ideal location to be enjoyed by all.