Aerial view of a coastal town with a marina filled with sailboats, a park with walking paths and trees, and a historic church with a tall steeple in the foreground. A bridge connects the town to distant land across the water.
An aerial view of a park with pathways, trees, grass, benches, and street lamps, surrounded by residential buildings and a street with parked cars.
People walking in a park with trees, a church, and a stone monument with text, under a clear blue sky.
People sitting and relaxing in a park with green grass, trees, street lamps, and a walking path, with buildings and a tower in the background on a sunny day.
A stone memorial plaque dedicated to Doris Duke and her efforts to rescue Newport's past, with a person and a golden retriever walking on a cobblestone path in the background.
Two fluffy dogs drinking water from a fountain in a park, people standing around in casual clothing.
A downtown park at dusk with lit lampposts, a winding brick pathway, a bench, green grass, and groups of people socializing near the street, with buildings and cars in the background.
A park at dusk with a brick pathway, a wooden bench, black lamp posts, green grass, large rocks, trees, and a lit steeple of a church in the background, with some people sitting and walking.
A park at night with lit lampposts, a stone outdoor fireplace, and two people walking hand in hand, one carrying a yellow bag, surrounded by trees and benches.
Aerial view of a small town park with trees, a white church with a tall steeple, surrounding residential houses, and parked cars along the streets.

Commissioned by the Newport Restoration Foundation, The Meeting Room is a contemplative park installation in Queen Ann Square, designed by Maya Lin, Edwina von Gal, and Nick Benson of the John Stevens Shop. The project was conceived as a space that encourages gathering, reflection, and quiet imagination within the urban fabric of the city.

The design centers on three stacked stone foundations, carefully crafted to represent the footprints of buildings that once occupied the site in 1777, 1876, and 1907. These historical markers provide a tangible connection to the past, while the surrounding open spaces and pathways create an inviting environment for community use. By blending art, history, and landscape, The Meeting Room transforms a small urban square into a meaningful and engaging public space.