University of Virginia – Charlottesville, VA
The Memorial to Enslaved Laborers is a powerful and nationally recognized commemorative site located on the grounds of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Designed as a place of reflection, remembrance, and education, the memorial features a striking, approximately 80-foot-diameter circular stone wall constructed from locally sourced Virginia Mist granite.
Surrounding the memorial is the “Triangle of Grass,” a prominent landscaped area that required discreet yet highly effective surface drainage to preserve the integrity of the site while maintaining its solemn, minimalist design intent.
Henshaw Drainage, a trusted distributor of Dura-Trench® systems, provided Dura-Trench TrueRadius™ slot drain to address surface runoff challenges in this sensitive area. The TrueRadius system was selected specifically for its ability to follow precise curves, allowing the drainage to mirror the memorial’s circular geometry without disrupting the visual continuity of the landscape.
Installed flush with the surrounding surfaces, the slot drain captures and conveys stormwater efficiently while remaining virtually invisible to visitors. This approach helps prevent standing water, protects adjacent turf and hardscape areas, and ensures long-term durability in a high-profile, pedestrian-focused environment.
This project exemplifies how Henshaw Drainage and Dura-Trench solutions can support architecturally significant and culturally important spaces—delivering performance-driven drainage that respects both the design vision and the meaning of the place.
