User:Krhettn/sandbox/Henri A. Termeer Square
 Henri A. Termeer Square Memorial | |
| Artist | Pablo Eduardo |
|---|---|
| Year | 2020 |
| Medium | granite, bronze, brick, light, landscape, and water |
| Subject | Henri A. Termeer |
| Location | Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Henri A. Termeer Square, established in 2018, memorializes Henri A. Termeer and includes a life-sized sculpture of him sitting on a long granite bench next to a fountain running into a shallow pool, surrounded by greenery in a 36,000 square-foot park. The statue, by sculptor Pablo Eduardo, sits as if speaking to someone sitting next to him.[1]
Design
[edit]The square was established in 2018 then finished and dedicated December 3rd, 2020, with a virtual dedication and video walking tour.[2]
The tree at the bottom of the reflecting pool represents the tree in The Giving Tree,[3] the book by Shel Silverstein. A stone at the entrance is inscribed with a Termeer quote, "It was just a dream and today you walk around Cambridge and find these dreams all over the place."
The goal of the square's design was "to create an open, green area amidst all the tall buildings in Kendall Square that would be welcoming to all who visited year round, and serve as a contemplative spot where grass and water could share space with stone and glass."[4]
The memorial is located near the Genzyme headquarters in Kendall Square of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Termeer had been Chairman, President, and CEO of Genzyme.[5] Another stone in the park reads "In memory of Steven Ertel, mentor, friend and biotech leader."
The square, formerly known as North Plaza, also retained its seasonal ice skating rink. It was also financed by biotech companies Alnylam, Ipsen, Sanofi Genzyme, Takeda, and Biogen.
References
[edit]- ^ "Henri A. Termeer Square Officially Dedicated in Cambridge". www.businesswire.com. 2020-12-04. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
- ^ Henri A. Termeer Virtual dedication Ceremony, YouTube, retrieved 2023-12-29
- ^ Gardizy, Anissa (December 3, 2020). "Revamped park honoring biotech leader Henri Termeer is unveiled in Cambridge - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
- ^ Termeer, Adriana. "Henri A. Termeer Virtual dedication Ceremony". YouTube.
We wanted to create an open, green area amidst all the tall buildings in Kendall Square that would be welcoming to all who visited year round, and serve as a contemplative spot where grass and water could share space with stone and glass. Termeer Square should embrace the local community, make visitors feel comfortable when they visit and spend time looking into the placid reflecting pool, or pondering the idea of the Giving Tree that was emblematic of my father's spirit. This wonderful spot may have someone's name attached to it, but it was designed to be a gift to all people.
- ^ Weisman, Robert (May 13, 2017). "Henri Termeer, key biotech leader who built Genzyme into an industry giant, dead at 71 - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2023-12-29.