MIT’s Collier Memorial

The memorial, designed by MIT Professor J. Meejin Yoon, is made from 32 blocks of polished granite that are composed in the form of an open hand, a five-way stone vault. Per Yoon, "Each block supports the other to create a central, covered space for reflection." Mounted to the smooth surface below the vault are the words, "In the line of duty, Sean Collier, April 18, 2013."

The five walls that buttress the stone vault are aligned with different parts of the irregular site, but two of them also mark the location of the shooting, just a few feet from the covered open space. As well, the south-facing wall is carved with words from Sean's brother's eulogy, "Live long like he would. Big hearts, big smiles, big service, all love."

For more on the design of MIT's Collier Memorial, which blends traditional structural techniques with computer fabrication, visit MIT News and Yoon's website, MY Studio.