TMCC Architecture Student Designs Monument for Courthouse

By Jennifer Rey

TMCC architectural and landscape students were challenged with an eight-week assignment to design a public space that will pay homage to replicas of our Charters of Freedom. The Charters of Freedom is a national nonprofit organization that brings access to the nation’s founding documents — the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, collectively called “The Charters of Freedom” to public spaces.

Student Anthony Decola’s design was selected as the future Charters of Freedom monument for Reno.

Last year the organization constructed a Charters of Freedom Monument in Carson City. It wanted a similar monument installed on the north side of the historic County Courthouse, south of the Riverside artist’s lofts in Reno.

“They called TMCC, because they needed a design solution,” said Construction and Design Professor Kreg Mebust, who coordinated the project. The design had to consider several factors, including historical context, diversity, city and preservation standards.  

Each second-year student created two designs and presented them to Charters of Freedom representative, Chuck Slavin, Assistant County Manager, Kate Thomas, along with other panel members who discussed design and maintenance concerns.

“Anthony has a unique perspective. He has created a space with a distinctive atmosphere that draws people in to the sacred ground of our Charters of Freedom,” said Mebust.  

Slavin agreed.

“All of us involved with the judging were truly impressed with the effort that went into the students’ designs and the quality of their projects,” he said. 

A timeline for the monument’s installation was not provided at the time of publication. Charters of Freedom is holding a fundraising campaign for the project: https://www.gofundme.com/washoe-charters-of-freedom-setting

SOURCE: TMCC.