The Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation (GWOTMF) has selected Auburn alum Marlon Blackwell – class of 1980, to design and build the new memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Blackwell and his 25-member design firm were selected from a pool of 177 candidates to create the Global War on Terrorism Memorial.
The project of a lifetime is not expected to be complete until 2027.
“It’s very exciting, and it’s very daunting,” Blackwell told Auburn’s Neal Reid. “It’s quite an honor to be selected for this project, and I think if we go through this process in a thoughtful and diligent way, it will yield very positive results.”
“We’re making a place, and this place is for people, for families, for folks from all walks of life to be able to come and pay respect and honor those who have sacrificed,” Blackwell said. “I think architecture has a way of creating an atmosphere of hope, and by getting us to reflect and turn inward and start to think outside our everyday lives. This is key to our mission.”
When the opportunity first came up, Blackwell was not sure that he wanted the responsibility of it.
“Initially, I didn’t want to be involved,” said Blackwell. “We’d never done anything like that, and it’s a lot to wrap your head around. Growing up in a military family, I just wasn’t sure.”
Blackwell’s wife of 20 years, Ati Blackwell, completed and submitted the designer application. After the Blackwells were named finalists, his attitude changed.
“Once they came back and said we were in the final five, I was like, ‘Oh my God! We’ve got to do this!’” he said.
The Blackwells, along with the other finalists, presented to the GWOTMF. Their proposal was accepted, and the Blackwells were awarded the $110 million project.
The memorial will be close to 23rd Street, Constitution Avenue, and Henry Bacon Drive. It will be near the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the National Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial. It will be located close to 23rd Street, Constitution Avenue, and Henry Bacon Drive in the nation’s capital.
“It’s an amazing site,” Blackwell said. “It may be the last site to be developed on the National Mall. It’s very prominent and is not forested, which creates an even more interesting relationship with the Lincoln Memorial. The proximity to the other memorials will show how they could have connectivity among
Blackwell comes from a military family. His father, William Earl Blackwell, was a U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant who served in the Vietnam War. War. His brother served in the U.S. Army and fought in Desert Storm. His stepbrother served in the Air Force National Guard and was deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. Blackwell’s great-uncle served in the U.S. Navy and was killed in action in World War II.
“It felt close to home, coming from a long line of military folks,” Blackwell said. “We now have an all-volunteer military, and a lot of people sacrifice their lives in this conflict — both military and civilians. Others returned home and remain impacted, along with their families.”
The Blackwells know that this is a great responsibility.
“The bottom line is: How do you honor these people for their service in protecting our rights, freedoms, and values as a country?” Blackwell said. “Also, I think memorials — as the Vietnam War Memorial has proven — act as a way of healing, not only for individuals and families but for healing as a nation.”
Blackwell applauded the Foundation and Design Advisory Council for their guidance on this project.
“The people we’re working with in the Foundation are genuine and focused, and the project is apolitical, which is important,” Blackwell said. “The Foundation has already gone through all the governmental layers and secured a site, and that’s one thing I liked about the memorial. We have great partners in the Foundation.”
Marlon Blackwell is a 1980 Auburn University graduate. Despite his busy schedule, Blackwell still enjoys attending football games with his son, Zain.
He credits his experience at Auburn for much of his success.
“I learned so much along the way from my instructors,” said Blackwell. “They really challenged me to challenge myself, which was probably the best thing they could’ve done. There was some tough love there, too, but my professors helped me build a foundation that I could always draw upon. It was really about trying to find purpose and meaning in every project that you do.”
Blackwell taught at Auburn in 2009 as part of the Paul Rudolph Visiting Professorship. Blackwell serves as the E. Fay Jones Distinguished Professor at the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas.
This project is fully funded by private donations and will not rely on taxpayer dollars. Construction is expected to take between 18-24 months.
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