{"id":4262,"date":"2020-07-01T10:38:21","date_gmt":"2020-07-01T15:38:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mkec.com\/?p=4262"},"modified":"2020-10-19T15:54:34","modified_gmt":"2020-10-19T20:54:34","slug":"veteran-cemetery-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mkec.com\/veteran-cemetery-design\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating Our Freedom, Honoring Their Sacrifices"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Celebrating our nation\u2019s independence is intertwined with honoring the men and women who gave their lives so we may enjoy that freedom. But rather than paying respects to these fallen veterans once or twice a year, we are fortunate that our profession allows us to honor them through our design as well. The next time you visit a national, state or tribal veteran cemetery, we hope you will keep in mind the thoughtful planning that went in to creating a resting place worthy of America\u2019s military heroes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Design for the ages<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a society, we ask a lot of cemeteries: We need them to offer a feeling of tranquility and provide a sense of harmony with nature. They must serve the deceased, as a serene resting place; and the living, as a sanctuary where we can sit peacefully with our thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Rarely do people stop to consider how that cemetery came to be or who helped make it so. That is \u2013 of course \u2013 by design. But like all engineering projects, there are many factors that go into cemetery design \u2013 starting with the idea of eternity.<\/p>Ken Kallenbach, AICP Manager of Planning, Development and Marketing <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
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MKEC’s nationally-respected cemetery master planner Ken Kallenbach, who literally wrote the book on cemetery design, describes cemeteries as \u201cforever spaces\u201d that are unlike any other. According to Kallenbach, \u201cWhen we first look at a site we ask ourselves how we can design a space that is both unique and will last in perpetuity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Awe and comfort<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The answer to that question depends in part on how we can best serve our client\u2019s needs, balanced with the natural aesthetic of the landscape. Our goal is for visitors to appreciate the awe and reverence that cemeteries should inspire. When designing national cemeteries \u2013 or \u201cnational shrines,\u201d as the Veterans Administration refers to them \u2013 MKEC\u2019s Civil Design Manager Dwayne Lancaster says: \u201cThat\u2019s the goal of designing a national shrine – on making something that is going to last and that is there for visitors to be able to reflect and take a moment and just be at peace with where their loved ones are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One way we accomplish that is by designing an impressive entrance \u2013 like this one below at The National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ \u2013 that shows visitors right away the place they\u2019re entering is special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Drainage challenge defied<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another major consideration is making visitors feel comfortable. When master planning cemeteries, designing drainage and grading are also critically important. Rather than having visitors walk in water, it\u2019s not uncommon for us to replace swales between roads and burial sections with standard drainage to allow water to flow off the sections, over the curb and into the gutter system. We did this successfully at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elmwood, Illinois.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In terms of drainage, perhaps our most challenging design was the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery in Jennings, Louisiana. With an elevation of just 26\u2019 above sea level, the groundwater was very close to the surface. On top of that, there was very little elevation change across the entire 23-acre site and no nearby rivers or creeks to which we could direct runoff water. We were able to turn this challenge into a success, making sure water didn\u2019t back up into the in-ground vaults by propping up all of the burial sections and convincing our client to make a significant investment in a lift station to drain crypts in the first and future phases of design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wayfinding and walkability<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also take care to include good navigation and signage into every design. Keeping in mind the large proportion of cemetery visitors who are senior citizens, our design team incorporates signage that is easy to follow, a road system with reasonable walking distances, and a readily-visible visitor center \u2013 all to help visitors orient themselves. This is especially important in helping people feel comfortable, particularly in large cemeteries like the 250-acre Tallahassee National Cemetery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cTallahassee National Cemetery is one of my favorite designs. It was a beautiful site to work with \u2013 rolling landscape, a good mix of vegetation and pastureland \u2013 it just lent itself well to a cemetery. We designed a hub and spoke circulation system, with one spoke as an entry drive leading to a series of circular drives from which more roads stretch radially to other parts of the cemetery. These kinds of design strategies help visitors stay oriented and avoid getting lost.\u201d<\/p> Ken Kallenbach, AICP Manager of Planning, Development and Marketing <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
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Tallahassee National Cemetery <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
Tallahassee National Cemetery <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
Tallahassee National Cemetery <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Shifting demands<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cemetery design isn\u2019t stagnant. Right now, for instance, we\u2019re seeing more demand for columbarium niches to house cremains and less demand for traditional casket burial spaces. The Kansas Veterans\u2019 Cemetery at Fort Riley is a good illustration of this. Our original plans called for a 65-35% split between full casket and cremains spaces; however, the site is running out of cremains spaces much more quickly than anticipated. Society\u2019s vision for final resting places changes over time, and we adapt our approach to planning and design along with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Below are some recent cemetery projects that have unique features, specific design challenges, and successful results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Drawing on our range of engineering expertise \u2013 civil, structural, electrical and mechanical \u2013 we\u2019ve earned a reputation as one of the most experienced firms in the country for cemetery master planning and design. Ready to partner with us? Drop us a line to learn more.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n