National WWI Memorial Project Timeline

Public Law 112-272 was introduced to Congress by Representative Ted Poe (R-TX). This provided for the creation of the World War One Centennial Commission, a non-taxpayer funded agency tasked with overseeing the design and construction of a National World War One Memorial in Washington, DC's Pershing Park, as well as educational and commemorative efforts to increase national awareness of the First World War.

The World War One Centennial Commission for their inaugural meeting in Kansas City, Missouri at the National World War One Museum at Liberty Memorial.

At the Commission's fourth meeting, the Commissioners discussed finalizing draft legislation for Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) to introduce to Congress to recognize the Liberty Memorial and Pershing Park as National World War One Memorials.

Vice Chair Edwin Fountain testifies to Congress in support of the World War One Memorial Act of 2014.

Pritzker Military Museum and Library donates $5 million to the World War One Centennial Commission in an effort to support the Commission's goals of commemorating those who fought and educating Americans about the Great War.

Public Law 113-291, containing an amendment to the Commemorative Works Act, is enacted, allowing for donor contributions to be made for commemorative works projects. This allows for private sponsors to donate money to the construction of a WWI Memorial and for a sponsor to be openly acknowledged somewhere on the Memorial.

WWICC publicly announced a forthcoming competition to design a National World War I Memorial located in Pershing Park on Pennsylvania Avenue, one block east of the White House.

Over 350 different designs received for Stage I of the Design Competition.

Stage II design concept selections announced. Five concepts were selected by the commission to proceed to Stage II. Those selected include: "Plaza to the Forgotten War" submitted by Brian Johnsen, AIA; Sebastian Schmaling, AIA, LEEP AP; and Andrew Cesarz, at Johnsen Schmaling Architects, Milwaukee, WI; "World War One Memorial Concept" submitted by Devin Kimmel, Principal at Kimmel Studio, llc in Annapolis, MD"; "The Weight of Sacrifice" submitted by Joseph Weishaar of Chicago, IL; "An American Family Portrait Wall in the Park" submitted by STL Architects in Chicago, IL; and "Heroes' Green" submitted by Maria Counts, of Counts Studio in Brooklyn, NY.

Public Display of Design Competition Stage II Finalist Designs at Wilson Building in downtown Washington, DC, with simultaneous online exhibition receiving public comments.

The July publishes a report to the WWICC on the five Stage II designs.

First presentation to the US Commisson of Fine Arts: CFA notes a fundamental challenge between presevation and re-conceptualization of the historic park designed by Paul M. Friedberg.

A revised design with the sculpture nested within the Western Terrace with a viewing platform, is presented and the general approach and concept is approved.

Design continues and another progress report is presented to the CFA

The memorial revisions, refinements on scultpture, secondary interpretive elements and planting strategy are presented. The CFA voices strong support for the landscape and planting approach.

The lighting design, furnishing and materials selection are presented. The furnishing and materials are approved.

CFA approves the interpretive elements and detailing with revisions to the sculpture details.

The first shipment of full scale armatures arrives at Sabin Howard Studios in New Jersey having been prepped and shipped at the Pangolin Editions foundry in the UK. The sculpture armatures are full scale, dense foam forms with 1/4 of clay on them that the sculptor uses as a base to sculpt the final figures from. The sculptor Sabin Howard now begins work on figures 1-11.

Having tracked along with the CFA meetings over the months, on this date the National Capital Planning Commission, the NCPC also approved the final design clearing the way for the project to seek construction permits from the Department of the Interior and the supervising National Park Service.

With the Memorial design team having completed and receiving approval of their design, the National Park Service issues the official permit for construction.

Grunley Construction begins the physical construction of the National WWI Memorial starting with a detail inventory of existing elements, stonework and individual pavers that will catalogued, removed, refurbished and reused in the Memorial construction as part of the heritage preservation of the original site.

Final shipment of armatures arrives at Sabin Howard Studios. All 38 figures that assemble into the 58.5 foot long centerpiece sculpture are now at the Sabin Howard Studio. The incredible full-size scope of the piece is visible for the first time.

Echoing events a century earlier Figures 1-11 ship out from New Jersey back to the Pangolin Editions foundry to be cast in bronze. The sculptor begins on the next group of figures known as "The Battle Scene".