Fairfax County has shared the initial design for a “Circles of Memory” memorial to recognize the toll of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last week, the Fairfax County Arts Committee’s project team submitted a zoning interpretation application to allow the memorial’s construction in front of the Herrity Building and Public Safety Headquarters at 12055 Government Center Parkway.
The memorial, which began as a way to honor those lost during the pandemic, has evolved into a broader vision of a peaceful space for reflection and recognition of the importance of mental health for both the general public and local government workers who respond to emergencies, according to the application.
“The project is planned for the plaza area near the Herrity Building and Public Safety Headquarters,” a Fairfax County spokesperson told FFXnow. “Its purpose has grown from solely honoring those lost in the pandemic to creating a peaceful space that recognizes those who work to support the mental and physical health of our community.”
In addition to honoring pandemic victims, the memorial’s design will integrate stormwater management features, shaded seating, and artistic elements to create a tranquil environment for remembrance and resilience. It will also provide opportunities to adapt the space for future memorial needs or emergency-related events.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors directed staff in February 2022 to plan a memorial to the 1,344 people who had died at that point from Covid.
A more recent, local-level death toll is harder to come by, since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed reporting requirements in May 2023, but as of May 10, 2023, the day before the federal government ended its emergency declaration for the pandemic, the Fairfax Health District had reported 1,793 deaths.
As of Dec. 12, Virginia has reported a total of 25,626 deaths due to Covid, according to the CDC. Nationwide, over 1.2 million people have died from the disease since it was first confirmed in the U.S. in January 2020.
ArtsFairfax and the arts committee selected artists Miriam Gusevich and Salvatore Pirrone in August 2023 to design Fairfax County’s planned memorial.
The arts committee’s letter to the county’s Zoning Evaluation Division explains that the site was chosen for its central location, county ownership, existing memorial use, proximity to pandemic-impacted employees, pedestrian traffic, parking availability, and compatibility with stormwater management goals.
An earlier design involving two tall abstract shapes with footers was scrapped due to high costs and structural issues, with the footers intruding too much into substructures below the plaza.
When going back to the drawing board, the project team decided to expand their scope in May 2024 to emphasize mental health respite and the toll of all life-threatening events in Fairfax County. Redesign efforts began in July 2024 and remain ongoing, the zoning letter notes.
The “Circles of Memory” project, which is envisioned as a “remembrance and reflection park,” remains “in the early planning stages,” according to the county spokesperson.
“While a draft design has been created, key evaluations are ongoing,” they said. “This includes a review to ensure the project meets zoning requirements and that any changes would comply with stormwater management objectives.”
