Milwaukee firm among 5 finalists in contest to design World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON — A jury has selected five design concepts (see photo gallery below) for a new national World War I Memorial to be built in a memorial park in Washington, with ideas ranging from neoclassical architecture to a portrait wall of the "American family." One of the firms with a concept under consideration is from Milwaukee -- it's Johnsen Schmaling Architects.

Congress has dedicated an existing park along Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House to become a national memorial honoring the veterans of the first world war and the 116,516 American lives lost. A design competition drew 350 entries, and a jury narrowed those to five finalists announced Wednesday.



A law signed by President Barack Obama in December designates Pershing Park as a site to be transformed into the memorial. The dilapidated park from 1981 currently includes a memorial to John J. Pershing, who led the American Expeditionary Force into Europe in 1917.

Public comment on the concept designs is encouraged. CLICK HERE if you'd like to share your thoughts on a favorite design or other ideas related to the anticipated memorial.