National Medal of Honor Museum
The National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, was envisioned as more than a museum. It is a place to preserve stories of courage, service, and sacrifice, and its bold design called for an equally thoughtful approach to the site beneath and around it. Graham Associates, now part of Parkhill, provided civil engineering and surveying services to help transform the former little league ballpark site into a nationally significant destination. The museum’s dramatic architecture, including a 200-by-200-foot exhibition hall elevated 50 feet above the ground, created a complex puzzle at the site level. Multiple elevations, retaining structures, utilities, roads, parking, and drainage all had to work together while supporting the architectural vision.
Bringing the Site Together
The team’s work included site grading, roads, parking, lighting, utility service, drainage, and plans to relocate a major electric duct bank. Graham also coordinated with private utility companies and the City of Arlington, helping bring the many pieces of the project together and guiding the civil work through the municipal approval process.
Rethinking Water
One of the most significant challenges centered on Mark Holtz Lake and the surrounding floodplain. Using hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, the team carefully reshaped site grading and helped remove more than an acre of existing parking. Combined with green roof systems that filter and manage stormwater, these strategies helped achieve a net-zero increase in impervious runoff while improving floodplain conditions. Water from Mark Holtz Lake also provides landscape irrigation, reducing reliance on treated domestic water.
Engineering Behind the Experience
Much of this engineering is intentionally unseen. Like the foundation beneath a monument, it quietly supports the experience above it. The result is a cohesive, park-like campus where infrastructure, landscape, pedestrian connections, gathering spaces, and the museum itself work together.
A Lasting Achievement
The National Medal of Honor Museum opened in March 2025, creating a landmark for Arlington, Texas, and visitors from across the country. Graham Associates’ work on the project was recognized with the ASCE Texas Section’s Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement (Texas OCEA) Award, celebrating an engineering accomplishment that helped create a lasting place for education, reflection, and remembrance.
