Batten Memorial
project type: fabrication , graphics , museums
Batten disease is a fatal, inherited disorder of the nervous system that begins in early childhood. In some cases, the early signs are subtle, taking the form of personality and behavior changes, slow learning, clumsiness, or stumbling. Because vision loss is often an early sign, Batten disease may be first suspected during an eye exam. As yet, no specific treatment is known that can halt or reverse the symptoms of Batten disease. Though the numbers are imprecise, it’s estimated that about 1000 children in the United States are diagnosed with this rare and incurable condition.
The Batten project began as a studio project at the School of Design, North Carolina State University. The project, to design a Batten Memorial, was funded by the Batten Foundation. Design Dimension was asked to be a guest critic on the jury for the project. At semesters end, the Foundation turned to DDI to design the Memorial, detail the joinery, connections, and lighting, and to complete fabrication. DDI has remained a part of the Batten Design Team by adding new panels to the Memorial on a yearly basis.
The design of the Memorial had to comply with a rigorous program. Because it is displayed at venues throughout the United States, the Memorial is designed for ease of assembly and disassembly. The geometry of the Memorial allows it to be installed in various locations and venues, in a variety of configurations, without external structural support. Expansion of the Memorial was a critical issue; each year a new panel of names, sandblasted into acrylic panels that encourage pencil-rubbings, is added to the Memorial.