The Foundation is fortunate to have Kengo Kuma, a name renowned in architecture around the world, leading its Design Team. Kuma san, along with his team at Kengo Kuma & Associates, is known for his poetic use of water, which brings a sense of tranquility and quietness that is ideal for this space of hope and healing.
Named one of Time’s “100 Most Influential People” in 2021, Kuma san has led design for some of the world’s most famous buildings, including the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo, the V&A Dundee Museum in Scotland, the Centro de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian in Lisbon, and the Rolex Building in Dallas, Texas. With offices around the world, Kuma san and his team will bring a global perspective to the Memorial to appropriately reflect the global nature of the Global War on Terrorism. This is not only important to the Foundation Board of Directors, Staff and Design Advisory Council but we also found it to be important to more than 80% of the Americans surveyed in our Help Design History survey.