Das Collier Memorial in Cambridge - ein skulpturales Gewölbe aus Granitblöcken

The Collier Memorial in Cambridge - A vaulting sculpture of monolithic stone blocks

The Collier Memorial was constructed on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to memorialize Officer SEAN COLLIER, who lost his life in the line of duty following the Boston Marathon Bombings. The memorial was designed by Professor J. MEEJIN YOON (Howeler + Yoon Architecture, Boston). The form of the memorial is inspired by the shape of an opened hand; five radially oriented walls come together to support a shallow vault. The form is achieved with monolithic granite stone blocks milled to create the flowing surfaces. This technically challenging project was only possible through close interdisciplinary collaboration. The computer-supported form finding process was based on the static principle of the thrust line theory, and the resulting initial geometry and structural concept were used to develop a complex structural analysis model. The weight of the massive stone blocks was resolved through arch action transferring compressive forces between the blocks. In order to ensure the redundancy and durability of the structure, stainless steel dowels were strategically inserted between blocks at certain locations. These dowels are invisible to the outside observer. Realizing the structure required great care during the construction process, from the preparation of the 32 granite stone blocks to the assembly of the structure on site. These efforts made it possible to achieve this vaulted structure and meet the architect's desire for extreme precision and uniformity in the final sculptural form.