Project Summary

Hoyle Tanner performed civil and structural engineering services for the Memorial Garden and Labyrinth at the Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) campus in Hooksett, New Hampshire. This landmark project is intended to memorialize victims of the COVID-19 pandemic and was conceived by Yale School of Architecture alumni. The labyrinth pathway leads through a 170′ long landscaped garden featuring concrete gathering pods. A focal point of the project is the approximately 10′ tall solstice stone which was aligned for illumination by the sun during solar noon on the solstice.

Hoyle Tanner provided civil engineering services including layout, grading and stormwater management for the garden and labyrinth as well as alignment for the solstice stone. The angle of the sun on the winter solstice at solar noon was calculated to obtain limits for tree clearing. Structural engineering services included design of the three, two-sided concrete pods which have spans ranging from 8′ to 20′. Reinforced concrete foundations were designed for the pods as well as the solstice stone. The project also includes pedestrian improvements to provide ADA accessibility to the memorial.