Design > Remembering The 1911 Triangle Factory Fire

The Fragility of Life

The columns of dark grey glass panels connected to the horizontal dark grey glass panel spandrels on both Washington Place and Greene Street symbolically represent ladders going to the upper floors where the tragic fire occurred. Ladders, that if they could have reached these upper floors, could have saved some of the lives on the day of the fire.
These columns and spandrels total 146 triangles and represent victims claimed by the fire. Each of these 146 panels is adorned with an individual red glass “candle” to honor the victims. The top of each column is adorned with a red glass beacon. All glass beacons and candles can be lit and will emit a gentle red glow to remind us of the significance of the Memorial.