The Millennium Gate, designed for The American Urban Design Foundation, is progressing rapidly on site in Atlanta, USA. Hugh Petter of Robert Adam Architects was employed as a classical design consultant for the new monument, which takes the form of a triumphal arch. The structure will house a public gallery for contemporary classical sculpture, as well as spaces for receptions and meetings. The design uses restrained classical detailing and will be embellished with a sculptural allegory by Alexander Stoddart, telling the story of peaceful accomplishment over the last 2000 years. The 70ft high building will be the first classical monument of this scale to be built in the USA since the Jefferson Memorial in 1936. Set in a prominent position on the edge of a new park, the arch will hopefully renew the prospects of the old steel mills area around the site and demonstrate how classical architecture can help to reclaim neglected urban areas.

The project is the brainchild of American architectural designer and philanthropist, Rodney Mims Cook Jnr. and is part of the Foundation's wider aim to re-establish classical principals in American cities. Asked why he appointed a British architect and a British sculptor to lead the project, Cook commented that he had worked previously with Hugh Petter on the creation of the World Athletes Monument. "The WA monument has been a tremendous success, thanks in large part to Hugh's efforts. Together with Sandy Stoddart, Scotland's leading classical sculptor, they make an extremely talented design team and have produced a worthy successor to the Jefferson Memorial." Two statues representing Peace and Justice have already been installed on site on specially designed pedestals as part of the wider project. As these dramatic site photos show, the arch will be a major addition to the townscape in Atlanta with completion expected in 2008.

The website for the National Monuments Foundation is www.thenmf.org