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Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Location
- Winston-Salem, NC
Project Snapshot
- The Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum (LJVM Coliseum) is a multi-purpose civic venue dedicated to local veterans and named for Medal of Honor recipient Lawrence Joel. In 1989 Wholesale Monument was selected by architect James Ford to fabricate and install the stone memorial elements that form a lasting, dignified memorial both inside and outside the facility. Our work included the granite walls within the coliseum and the field of granite posts on the exterior plaza.
Challenges
- The municipal scale of the project and its ceremonial purpose required stonework that would:
• Convey respect and dignity appropriate to a veterans’ memorial.
• Withstand heavy public use and exterior weathering for decades.
• Integrate precisely with the architect’s layout and inscriptions (including legible, permanent lettering).
• Be installed in a busy construction schedule while coordinating with multiple trades and site constraints (exterior plazas, tree pits and paving).
Our Role and Approach
- Wholesale Monument’s responsibilities covered the full stone scope for the memorial elements:
Design coordination
We worked closely with James Ford and the construction team to review drawings, confirm materials and layouts, and provide shop drawings and mock-ups for approval prior to fabrication.
Material selection
Natural granite was selected for its permanence and dignified appearance. The stone finish, color consistency and grain were matched across interior walls and exterior posts to ensure a cohesive look between inside and outside memorial elements.
Fabrication
All panels and posts were precision-fabricated to the architect’s tolerances. Lettering and inscriptions were carefully carved and finished so they would remain legible over time and read clearly from intended viewing distances.
Installation
Exterior granite posts were individually set on prepared foundations and anchored to meet structural requirements and freeze/thaw cycles. Interior granite walls were installed to align with lobby and circulation patterns while minimizing disruption to the larger coliseum construction schedule. Throughout, we coordinated lifting, access and sequencing with the general contractor and other trades.
Technical Highlights
- • Durable natural granite selected for exterior exposure and interior presence.
• Precision-cut posts with carved inscriptions (e.g., “WORLD WAR II” and other dedications).
• Custom anchors and foundations to ensure long-term stability of the exterior post field.
• Mock-ups and on-site adjustments to maintain consistent joint lines, alignment and sight-lines across the plaza.
Solutions
- Site conditions and layout — The exterior memorial is an ordered field of vertical posts set across a paved plaza with trees and circulation paths. We coordinated field layout with the architect and civil trades to ensure precise placement, avoid root zones, and maintain the intended sight-lines.
Durability requirements — Anticipating decades of exposure, we specified granite and anchoring details to resist staining, spalling and movement. Where necessary we used stainless-steel anchors and approved setting materials compatible with the stone.
Coordination with multiple trades — We staged work, arranged lifts, and scheduled installations around other contractors to stay on time and protect finished surfaces.
Outcome
- Wholesale Monument delivered memorial walls and an exterior field of granite posts that fulfilled the architect’s design intent and the community’s need for a durable, respectful veterans’ tribute. The stonework contributes to the coliseum’s solemn recognition of service and sacrifice while meeting long-term performance expectations.
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