The symbolic memorial is the result of an international design competition that produced more than 624 entries from 23 countries and all 50 states. Butzer Design Partnership, a Berlin, Germany-based firm at the time of selection, was chosen to design the memorial. Principle designers were Hans and Torrey Butzer, and Sven Berg. The memorial stands on a three-acre site that includes remnants of the original building destroyed in 1995 by the largest act of terrorism ever committed on U.S. soil.
Visitors enter the east side of the memorial through the first of two large gates.
May all who leave here know the impact of violence. May this memorial offer comfort, strength, peace, hope and serenity. Between the two gates is a 400-foot reflecting pool and 168 empty glass and granite chairs in honor of each of the people killed. The Survivor Tree, an American Elm which withstood the blast, stands to the north of the chairs commemorating those who survived. Cascading terraces under its canopy offer a peaceful setting.