Flight 93 Memorial Tower of Voices

Project Description

We are honored to have shared in the responsibility of building an enduring tribute to the men and women of United Flight 93—a visual and audible reminder of the heroism and sacrifice of the 40 passengers and crew who died aboard Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.

Conceived in 2005 by Paul Murdoch Architects and Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects, and commissioned by The National Park Service, the Tower of Voices is a 93-foot-tall musical instrument housing 40 wind-activated aluminum chimes, one for each of the 40 lives lost. The ARCH team was responsible for the final design development and elaborate mechanics of what are now the world’s largest wind-activated chimes. Our work included the machining of parts, testing and tuning, assembly, on-site installation, and rigging. ARCH trucked the completed chimes—each weighing more than 150 lbs and each composed of 194 component pieces, to site and led a rigging team on a 2-week installation.

Through the gentle harmony and dissonance of the 40 chimes — the nobility of the fallen, a serenity for their remembrance, and the discord of the events that consecrated the site—each resonate. Our portfolio spans many industries and our builds have many uses, but there is nothing we value more than creating large-scale public art that has permanence and mission. We believe that sculpture has power and we are humbled to wield that power to achieve the goals of this eloquent piece. May it forever stand for reflection and healing, and inspire unity and peace.