Stairs
The north entry includes a short set of stairs, 3 risers, that will allow visitors to climb from sidewalk level to the elevated plane which will house the cenotaph, the benches, and the 1919 Map of Phillips County. By placing these items on an elevated plane, the intent is to create a sacred, special space. The act of climbing a few steps gives the visitor a sense of transition, an opportunity to focus one’s thoughts on the experience of the place and prepare for contemplation. This relationship is similar to the chancel in a church, which is elevated above the adjacent levels, and contains the altar. (Read more about the design of the Memorial.)
Forming stairs for concrete is an interesting endeavor and forming curved stairs adds another level of complexity. Safe stairs demand uniformity in the riser height and the tread size. Outdoor stairs have to slope slightly to shed water, but still be level enough to create a confident foothold for the climber.
The forming process requires setting wooden boards and steel rebar into the proper shape and at the proper elevation while maintaining the safety tolerances described above. The formwork becomes a temporary structure that must maintain its shape under the fluid pressure from the concrete and be able to resist the loads incurred during placement, such as 3-4 workers walking on it simultaneously while shoveling the liquid concrete into the form.
Once the concrete starts to harden, the formwork has to be quickly demolished and moved out of the way without damaging the fresh, fragile concrete so that the finishing process can commence. It’s an interesting process that requires experience, coordination, and cooperation.
For more information about the Elaine Massacre Memorial, visit:
https://www.elainemassacrememorial.org/
For more information about the Elaine Massacre, visit:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/death-hundreds-elaine-massacre-led-supreme-court-take-major-step-toward-equal-justice-african-americans-180969863/
https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/elaine-massacre-of-1919-1102/