City of Greenville breaks ground on 10-story Honor Tower, Gardens at Unity Park
June 12, 2024
Iconic structure dedicated to military veterans and first responders
Dozens of private donors contributing a total of $5.5 million joined the City of Greenville in breaking ground on the 10-story Thomas and Vivian A. Wong Honor Tower and Gardens at Unity Park.
The tower will pay tribute to military veterans and first responders – law enforcement officers, firefighters, medical workers, mental health workers and utility linemen who save lives, keep us safe and make our community a better place to live.
The $11 million cost is split evenly between city accommodation tax revenue and private contributions from 24 donors. Construction on the tower designed by Paul Endres of Endrestudio of California is scheduled to be completed in Q3 of 2025.
The Philip J. Carlton Plaza will host public ceremonies and memorials, and the Prisma Health Observation Deck will provide a panoramic view of Greenville’s skyline and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The Wong Family donated $1 million for the tower. Sharon and Heather Carlton donated $500,000 in honor of Sharon’s late-husband and Heather’s father, Philip J. Carleton. Prisma Health contributed to the observation deck, and AT&T contributed for the upper plaza.
The Honor Tower will be surrounded at the base by beautiful gardens offering a place for quiet reflection and contemplation. The Webster Family donated for the Lanny Webster Garden, the McKissick Foundation donated for the Noel P. McKissick Garden, the Surendra Family donated for the Ahimsa Garden of Peace honoring Surendra and Neelima Jain and the McCrary Family donated for the Grand Garden of Hope honoring Jan McCrary.
Emilie and John Pazdan donated for the flagpole, pedestal and U.S. Flag that will fly at the tower.
Other donors were Nancy & Rick Pennell, Donna & Bo Gossett, the Aughtry Family Foundation, Harper Corporation, Southern Tide, the Estevez Family, the Todd Taylor Family, Jordon Construction, Lee & Associates, Proactive MD, the Yeargin Family, VisitGreenvilleSC, Greenville County and the Andre Bauer Family.
Visitors can ascend to the top of the tower by way of stairs or a glass-walled elevator. The structure includes 75,000 pounds of steel
Located between what were once two segregated parks, Honor Tower is both an expression of tribute and symbolic of a city that has built a reputation for collegiality, collaboration, respect and unity.
Click here for the newest renderings of the Honor Tower.
