Project Overview
Authorized in 1861, the Medal of Honor is the highest military award for valor in the United States. Recipients exhibit core values of courage, sacrifice, commitment, integrity, citizenship, and patriotism. Through the years, more than 3500 medals have been awarded to those who have gone above and beyond in their service and dedication to the United States. In Arlington, Tex., the new National Medal of Honor Museum aims to honor these recipients, share their stories, and spotlight the acts and deeds that have helped transform America. This landmark public institution required a design as inspirational as the service members it honors, resulting in an impressive exhibit hall that hovers 40 ft above the ground. To support the 200 × 200-ft elevated structure, the design team—consisting of Wells, Rafael Viñoly Architects, and engineer Schlaich Bergermann Partner—specified five monumental, inverted precast concrete columns. In addition to serving as the building’s primary vertical support and vertical utility distribution, each of these columns represents one of the five branches of the U.S. military.
Building a Legacy
The project team engaged in early design-assist collaboration, using building information modeling to coordinate systems and optimize constructability. Initial design concepts explored full-height monolithic panels, but the engineering team at Schlaich Bergermann Partner determined that a ring-based system of precast concrete segments would better meet structural and production requirements. Each segment was match-cast and test-fitted in the yard to meet the project’s strict tolerances, which were less than ? in. Each column consists of seven tapered, 6-ft-tall ring segments, reinforced with No. 11 bars and connected by grouted splice sleeves. This formed a continuous system capable of carrying axial loads up to 2000 tons while resisting wind and seismic forces. The tapered geometry of the columns also required unique formwork for each piece.
“Precast concrete was selected for the National Medal of Honor Museum’s mega-columns because of its dimensional precision, high-quality finishes, and its ability to accelerate the construction schedule,” says Bassam Komati, partner at Rafael Viñoly Architects. “These qualities made it the most effective system to meet both the design ambitions and the fixed grand opening date in March 2025.”
Accelerated scheduling was particularly important on this project due to its fixed completion deadline. Once the 35 column segments were completed, general contractor Linbeck Group installed them in less than four weeks. Precision in the erection process was critical—not only did the columns need to serve as the building’s sole vertical structural system, but they also needed to integrate key mechanical systems within their hollow cores. This enabled the museum to attain its signature floating form without additional internal columns or core walls. Precast concrete accomplished all of this while also supporting several sustainability goals, including material efficiency, reduced construction waste, and increased long-term durability.
Throughout the project, the team remained deeply aware of the meaning behind the work. Every company involved was encouraged to engage veterans at key moments during construction. At the Wells plant in Hillsboro, Tex., military veteran team members were invited to be present for a special milestone when the first precast concrete ring was loaded for delivery to Arlington. Thirteen veterans stood in tribute as the first section left the yard, underscoring the deep personal connection between those building the structure and the service members it honors. As construction progressed, veterans working on the project were also invited on escorted tours of the museum.
The project achieved the vision of a monumental, column-supported civic landmark entirely through precast concrete as the building’s core structural solution. “The National Medal of Honor Museum serves as a landmark civic project in Arlington, Texas, enriching the cultural and educational landscape of the region,” Komati says. “By symbolically embodying the five branches of the U.S. military through the mega-columns, the museum also strengthens connections between the armed forces, veterans, and the broader public—making it both a civic destination and a cultural anchor for the community.”
Mason Nichols is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based writer and editor who has covered the precast concrete industry since 2013. |