EAST BAY AIDS MEMORIAL GARDEN
LOCATION
Oakland, CA
CLIENT
East Bay AIDS Memorial Garden (EBAMG)
TypE
Parks and Gardens
Civic Landscapes
Description
In the summer of 2026, PWP partnered pro-bono with the East Bay AIDS Memorial Garden steering committee to design a dedicated memorial in Oakland’s Gardens at Lake Merritt. Developed through a week-long intern design charrette and extensive community input, the concept balances the emotional weight of a memorial with the warmth of a vibrant urban park—honoring those lost while celebrating the resilience of the POZ+, LGBTQ+, and East Bay healthcare communities.
Inspired by meditative labyrinths and the iconic pink triangle of the ACT UP movement, the site features concentric raised Corten steel planting beds that form a triangle shape framing a sunlit gathering space. Visitors move from a shaded perimeter of native plants and red-barked trees into a sunlit central core anchored by a 20-foot Corten steel monument. This spatial progression symbolizes the journey from isolation to community. Beyond remembrance, the space offers active ecotherapy, community stewardship, and storytelling integrated through engraved benches, pathways, and planters. As the steering group launches its fundraising campaign, PWP remains committed to bringing this living memorial to life.
Collaborators
East Bay AIDS Memorial Garden (EBAMG)
The Gardens at Lake Merritt
