The Burying Ground Memorial
Location: University of Richmond, Richmond, VA
Designer: Baskerville
General Contractor: Team Henry
Client: University of Richmond
Contractor / Installer: Swift Creek Masonry in coordination with Quarra Stone
Material: Granite, Corten Steel, Bronze
Date Completed: 2025
At the center of the University of Richmond’s campus now stands The Burying Ground Memorial — a space of solemn reflection and historical truth-telling. The memorial honors the lives of enslaved individuals buried on university land, restoring dignity to those whose identities were lost to time. Designed to provoke remembrance and invite contemplation, the space is both beautiful and deeply reverent.
Quarra Stone was honored to contribute to this project in a full-service role, providing support from early-stage design collaboration through final on-site installation. Our team led the digital modeling of the memorial and played a vital role in revising and executing the artwork applied to the memorial’s granite wall. Every etched face and pencil-drawn image carries weight—and our responsibility was to ensure each one was rendered with integrity and care.
A Material Language of Memory
The memorial combines a diverse palette of materials to create a meditative and enduring site: granite cladding with etched imagery, Corten steel edging, bronze railings, precision-cut stairs, and a serene pebble tile water feature. These elements are seamlessly interwoven, requiring dozens of exacting details to align across disciplines and trades. Quarra’s experience with complex assemblies ensured that the stone and bronze integrated cleanly in both aesthetic and structural terms.
Etching faces into stone is as much a technical process as an emotional one. Working closely with Team Henry and Baskerville, we developed a strategic approach to applying imagery to the stone surface—balancing clarity, material response, and the emotional intent of the artwork. To align on expectations and surface finish, we hosted the client and design team at our Madison facility (Q2) for a full-scale mockup and review. Members of the University of Richmond and architect Bert from Baskerville participated in this critical step, which ultimately shaped the final execution of the memorial.
Integrated Fabrication, Lasting Commitment
Quarra’s involvement went far beyond fabrication. After producing the final stone elements, we coordinated delivery to the site and remained engaged through installation to ensure everything was placed accurately and to spec. We subcontracted Swift Creek Masonry to install the stone components, while two of our own team members—Ramsey and Brian—traveled to the site to perform final touch-ups and closeout work. From concept to completion, our focus remained on precision, collaboration, and reverence for the story being told.
This project also reflects our role as design collaborators. In addition to modeling the memorial, we contributed to the artistic revision process—advising on how to most effectively translate the visual narrative onto the stone medium. Our hands-on approach helped preserve the clarity of the artwork while enhancing its emotional resonance.
Today, The Burying Ground Memorial stands as a permanent gesture of remembrance. It invites passersby to pause, reflect, and reckon with the past. We are proud to have played a role in bringing such a meaningful project to life.
