Design Contest in Honor of Factory Fire

Not far from Washington Square Park, two plaques along New York University’s brownstone building describe the tragic Triangle Waist Factory fire, which happened 102 years ago. Now, those paying tribute to the blaze want a permanent memorial at the site. And they are asking creative people to design it.

“We have dedicated ourselves to keeping the story alive,” Becky Dalzell, a public relations consultant for the Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition, told the Free Press.

On March 25, 1911, a lit cigarette butt, thrown into a pile of fabric, left the factory’s eighth floor afire. The flames grew, the floor collapsed, and a ninth floor exit was locked. Workers jumped into elevator shafts and out of windows. In all, the fire claimed 146 lives.

“Witnesses thought they were throwing bundles of fabric out the window,” said Kevin Baker, member of the Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition. “But the workers were jumping out to escape the fire.”

The coalition supports the creation of a memorial in honor of those lost in the fire. At a press conference held inside Judson Church last month, members of the coalition established rules for the memorial design competition. Participants can submit renderings as individuals or in teams of no more than five people.

The competition will feature two groups of judges. The first includes members of the New York City Landmarks and Preservation Commission. The second features members of the memorial coalition who will choose between ten designs.

“Design something that can be part of the landscape,” said Ernesto Martinez, the competition’s director.

Finalists will get a $500 stipend. The winner will acquire $5,000.

Participants have to submit a 24”x36” project on a PDF file with a detailed description of their memorial idea.

Design registration ends April 5, and the submission deadline in April 12. Individuals entering the competition must pay $45, while teams must submit a $75 fee.