Skanska USA, one of the world’s leading construction and development firms, has completed the construction of an outdoor space for a new monument for The Old Guard Washington DC Foundation, Inc. to honor the country’s oldest active duty regiment at the Joint Base Myer – Henderson Hall in Arlington, Va.
On May 1, the Army unveiled The Old Guard Monument, as part of the 70th anniversary of the re-activation in the nation’s capital of the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard. U.S. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio, spoke at the ceremony, as did Col. Jason T. Garkey, current commander of the Old Guard.
The Old Guard is responsible for conducting memorial affairs honoring fallen soldiers, guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery, and representing the U.S. Army at special events and ceremonies. Organized in 1784, it is also sometimes called the “Escort to the President,” and is headquartered at Fort Myer, Va.
The 12-foot tall bronze sculpture symbolizes more than 234 years of service to the nation and honors and memorializes the thousands of soldiers who have served throughout its celebrated history. It features three central figures: a saluting non-commissioned officer (NCO) honoring the countless leaders who have filled the ranks; a combat infantryman emblematic of those who have fought in defense of the nation; and a marching Continental Army Soldier acknowledging both the unit's historic lineage and its enduring obligation to tell the Army's story.
“The contemplative space created with this memorial is in keeping with the solemn duty performed by the members of this regiment since its founding in the earliest years of our country,” said Executive Vice President and General Manager Steve Skinner of Skanska’s Washington, D.C. building operations. “It is a privilege to be part of honoring these soldiers who have brought so much dignity to their responsibilities.”
B.J. Mungenast is the sculptor. She is known for her portrayals of nature’s influence on everyday life. She recently completed another sculpture for The Old Guard, which can be found in Jefferson Barracks Park in St. Louis, Mo.
For this project, Skanska graded and landscaped a 1/3-acre open-lawn site with new trees and hedges surrounding a granite-and-brick-paved plaza where the bronze Old Guard Monument was placed. Two new open-air pavilions were built to serve as the site’s southern entry and three granite benches flank its northern perimeter. Enhanced with landscape elements, lighting, and ornamental metal work, with the new statue as its focus, the site provides a reflective space to honor those who have served in this storied regiment.
The Skanska team worked with Zaras and Neudorfer Architects on the project.
Skanska’s other construction projects in the greater Washington, D.C. region include: the headquarters facility for the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water); RESA at Tyber Place, a new 326-unit luxury residential apartment building with significant rooftop amenities and approximately 7,000 square feet of ground-floor restaurant and retail space, located at 22 M Street NE; 99M Street, SE, a 235,000-square-foot office building under construction in the Capitol Riverfront; 2112 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, an 11-story, 230,000-square-foot office building and approximately 10,000 square feet of ground floor retail; and the renovation of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Headquarters Building.
Skanska recently completed Lafayette Elementary School, American University’s East Campus project and the First Street Tunnel, part of D.C. Water’s Clean Rivers Project, and previously completed the reconstruction of the 11th Street bridges and adjacent interchanges in the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood.
Skanska USA is one of the largest, most financially sound construction and development companies in the U.S., serving a broad range of clients including those in transportation, power, industrial, water/wastewater, healthcare, education, sports, data centers, government, aviation, life sciences and commercial. Headquartered in New York with offices in 31 metro areas, we have nearly 11,000 employees committed to being leaders in safety, project execution, sustainability, ethics and people development. In 2017, our work in building construction, civil and power/industrial construction, commercial development and infrastructure development (public-private partnerships) generated $7.3 billion in revenue. Global revenue of parent company Skanska AB, headquartered in Stockholm and listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange, totaled $18.8 billion in 2017. Skanska shares are publicly traded in the U.S. on the OTC market under the symbol SKBSY through a Level I American Depository Receipt program.
