CCD was engaged to design a memorial tower for the Gibbs-Green Memorial Plaza at Jackson State University. Gibbs-Green Plaza is named in memory of Phillip Lafayette Gibbs, 21, a junior pre-law major and James Earl Green, 17, a senior at nearby Jim Hill High School. They were killed on May 14, 1970 as Jackson police opened fire on a crowd of students at Jackson State University. The memorial tower within Gibbs Green Plaza would elevate that role by introducing a clear, legible landmark—something that is instantly recognizable on arrival and meaningful over time. The tower is conceived not simply as a vertical element, but as a symbol of remembrance. Plaques on the interior of the tower would celebrate the lives of Gibbs and Green and explain the events surrounding their deaths. Positioned to define key sightlines and pathways, the tower would provide orientation across campus, acting as a “you are here” marker for visitors and a familiar beacon for students and alumni.
