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Overview

This boldly, non-objective monument recalled works of Modern scuplture by Isamu Noguchi and others. In part because of its radical, geometric qualities, the memorial was never realized. Instead, a more traditional Pacific War Memorial was completed about ten years later on the Island of Corregidor.

Building History

The Seattle architectural firm of Naramore, Bain, Brady and Johanson (NBBJ) designed this remarkable, unbuilt memorial for the Allied soldiers who died at the Philippine Battles of Corregidor (05/05-06/1942) and Bataan (01-04/1942). Corregidor was freed from Japanese control again on 02/16-26/1945.

The NBBJ team included Perry B. Johanson, William J. Bain, Sr., and Clifton J. Brady, design critics; William M. Svensson, lead in charge of development of the design; John A. Rohrer delineated the design; and the engineer John B. Skilling worked out the structural design. It was awarded the prize in 06/1957.

The competition to design the memorial occurred in two phases: a first open to all firms, and a second limited to ten selected teams of architects, sculptors and engineers.

Because of its size, cost and abstract qualities, this memorial designed by NBBJ was not erected. Instead, a more traditional memorial, the Pacific War Memorial, was built on Corregidor in Manlia Bay to commemorate the entire Pacific War effort by the Allies. The Pacific War Memorial opened in 1968.

Building Notes

Unbuilt.

The nine other teams invited to participate in the competition's second phase included:
Anshen and Allen, Architects, San Francsico, CA, and Robert B. Howard, associated sculptor;
Gardner A. Dailey Architects associated with Kitchen and Hunt, Architects, San Francisco, CA, and Boris Lovet Lorsky, associated sculptor;
Gugler, Kimball and Husted, Architects;
Katz, Weisman, Blumenkranz, Stein, Weber, Associated Architects, New York, NY, working with Constantino Nivola, associated sculptor, Peter Strauss, engineer, Patrick Raspante and Ricardo Scofidio, architectural designers, Wiedlinger and Salvadori Engineers;
Francis Keally and Howard S. Patterson, Architects, New York, NY, working with Donald deLue, sculptor, Allyn Cox, painter, and Richard Webel, landscape architect;
McKim, Mead and White, Architects, New York, NY, working with Clarke and Rapuano, Landscape Architects-Site Planners, Sidney Waugh, sculptor, and Severud-Elstad-Krueger, Structural Engineers;
Shepley, Bulfinch, Richardson and Abbott, Architects, Boston, MA.
Donald Powers Smith, Architect, San Francisco, CA, working with Isadore Thompson, Structural Engineer, Roger Youngs, geodesic dome developer, Andrew Tagliafaco and Anthony Parrinello, artists; and
Paul Thiry, Architect, Seattle, WA.

Members of the competition jury included six architects: Pietro Belluschi (1899-1994), Chairman; Arthur Brown, Jr., (1874-1957); William Gehron (1887-1958); William J.H. Hough (1888-1969); Frederick V. Murphy (1879–1958); John Wellborn Root, Jr. (1887-1963); an architectural sculptor, Lee Lawrie (1877-1963); architect John Frederick Harbeson (1888-1966) served as a "professional adviser." Four, high-ranking military leaders also took part: Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz (1885-1966), US Navy; General Walter Krueger (1881-1967) US Army, Retired; General George C. Kenney (1889-1977), US Air Force, Retired; Vice-Admiral William O. Hiltabidle, Jr., (1896-1986), US Navy, Retired.

PCAD id: 24676