Members of the City of West Hollywood’s City Council joined representatives from the Foundation for the AIDS Monument (FAM) and representatives from PCL Construction, MGAC construction management, and LPA Design Studios in a brief ceremony on Monday, October 21, 2024 to mark the commencement of construction of STORIES: The AIDS Monument. The project is anticipated to be completed in late 2025.

STORIES: The AIDS Monument is a collaboration between the City of West Hollywood and the Foundation for the AIDS Monument (FAM) to memorialize the devastation of HIV/AIDS, honor courageous activists, caregivers, and community leaders through their STORIES, and raise awareness about the history and stigma of living with HIV/AIDS. The AIDS Monument will be located prominently in West Hollywood Park along N. San Vicente Boulevard and will function as an iconic public art experience and memorial site.

Designed by artist Daniel Tobin, the AIDS Monument will feature a plaza, a donor wall, vertical bronze “traces” with narrative text integrated lighting reminiscent of a candlelight vigil, and a podium facing N. San Vicente Boulevard. Set in the heart of West Hollywood, the AIDS Monument will capture the West Hollywood community’s activism and the personal stories of those impacted by HIV/AIDS.

An album of renderings of the AIDS Monument is available on the City’s official Flickr site, which is located at www.flickr.com/weho. Background information about the AIDS Monument is available by visiting the City’s website at go.weho.org/aidsmonument. Follow project updates on the City’s Engage WeHo site at engage.weho.org/aidsmonument.

About the City of West Hollywood and HIV/AIDS – The onset of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the early 1980s had a significant impact in West Hollywood. The disease’s elevated infection rate among gay men caused a devastatingly high number of deaths in the City. The City of West Hollywood was one of the first government entities to provide social services grants to local AIDS and HIV organizations. The City of West Hollywood also sponsored one of the first AIDS awareness campaigns in the country in October 1985 and the City’s response to the AIDS crisis has been recognized as a model for other cities, nationally and globally.

The City of West Hollywood actively participates in the development of programs that bring awareness about the HIV/AIDS epidemic and provide services to people living with HIV/AIDS. The City has a goal to become an “HIV Zero” city and is currently implementing its HIV Zero Initiative. Along with the AIDS Monument, the City’s ongoing programs continue to commemorate the lives of those who were lost, such as World AIDS Day programming, and the AIDS Memorial Walk in partnership with the Alliance for Housing and Healing. For more information, please visit www.weho.org/services/human-services/hiv-aids-resources.

About the Foundation for the AIDS Monument (FAM) – The Foundation for the AIDS Monument (FAM) is comprised of volunteer board members who share a passion for ensuring that the history of the AIDS epidemic, both locally and nationally, is chronicled and preserved for younger generations. The work of FAM is made possible by the generosity of the many people and organizations who donated their time and expertise to help realize a vision for the AIDS Monument. For more information, please visit www.aidsmonument.org.

About PCL Construction – PCL is a group of independent construction companies that operates throughout the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Australia. As one of the largest contracting organizations in North America, PCL completes more than $7 billion USD in work annually, building projects that shape communities. The company’s 100% employee ownership model fuels a culture of commitment for clients in the buildings, civil infrastructure, heavy industrial, and solar markets. With a strategic presence in more than 30 major centers, PCL’s leadership teams consistently drive innovation and set new benchmarks for excellence, bringing unparalleled skill to every project. For more information, please visit www.pcl.com.

About MGAC – MGAC is a global boutique consultancy dedicated to managing and representing its clients’ best interests. Its success is rooted in hiring exceptional people who are driven to do challenging work with the unique blend of experience, integrity, creativity, and commitment that separates it from its competitors. MGAC provides best-in-class services that include project management, program management, project controls, cost management, schedule management, technology solutions, FF&E procurement, relocation management, and health + safety. The firm has the ability to integrate these services to provide a completely customized and tailored solution to suit its clients’ project or program specific needs. For more information, please visit www.mgac.com.

About LPA Design Studios – LPA Design Studios (LPA) is a multi-discipline firm focused on collaboration, inclusion, and an integrated design process that connects building performance and design excellence. breaks down the barriers between disciplines, drawing upon the expertise of the different teams — engineers, landscape architects, interior designers, planners — to find the best answers for each project. At every level, LPA has eliminated the traditional barriers to encourage collaboration and the flow of ideas. Every voice is heard. All input is valued. LPA  works with clients and communities to develop projects that work better for people. For more information, please visit https://lpadesignstudios.com.

About Artist Daniel Tobin – Daniel Tobin is co-founder and creative director of UAP, which creates public art programs that humanize our cities by embedding creativity in the hearts and minds of its populace. He has worked with many renowned artists and architects to deliver programs that activate our public spaces, nurture our communities and build sustainable cities. Tobin’s experience within the arts, architecture, and design industry has seen him win major commissions as well as collaborate on significant international projects that have improved the creative fabric of cities. For more information, please visit https://www.uapcompany.com.

For additional information, please contact Michael Barker, the City of West Hollywood Project Architect, at (323) 848-6556 or at mbarker@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.

For up-to-date information about City of West Hollywood news and events, follow @wehocity on social media, sign-up for news updates at www.weho.org/email, and visit the City’s calendar of meetings and events at www.weho.org/calendar. West Hollywood City Hall is open for walk-in services at public counters or by appointment by visiting www.weho.org/appointments. City Hall services are accessible by phone at (323) 848-6400 and via website at www.weho.org. Receive text updates by texting “WeHo” to (323) 848-5000.

For reporters and members of the media seeking additional information about the City of West Hollywood, please contact the City of West Hollywood’s Public Information Officer, Sheri A. Lunn, at (323) 848-6391 or slunn@weho.org.