Cold War Veterans Memorial competition won by Oyler Wu Collaborative

The memorial’s core objective is to “create a permanent recognition that stimulates ongoing thought” and to honor the American military members and civilians who served and sacrificed during the Cold War era. The two-phase process to select the winning design began with an open international call for ideas, followed by the selection of four finalists.

“The final decision was tough, but after much discussion, we believe that the Orbits design will truly resemble a place where everyone who contributed to the Cold War will be honored,” said Pritzker Military Museum & Library founder Col. Jennifer Pritzker. “This memorial is special and very dear to many because people who sacrificed during this era are not recognized enough. Our goal is to make sure that our gratitude to these individuals is signified through this project.”

The broader Pritzker Archives and Memorial Park Center will be completed in phases over the next ten years. The first phase will include the Pritzker Military Archives Center holding collections and workspaces for exhibition and curation, commercial archives, a communal landscaped green space, and the memorial itself.