Client: Dayton Metro Library

Overview

Fractal Rain is a response to community-chosen inspirations from the Dayton Art Institute, Monet's Waterlilies and Chimu Mask, and the City of Dayton's 1913 flood history. 36' H x 118' W x 13' D, suspended at 56' H. 4.8 miles of stainless steel wire. 1/3 mile of extruded acrylic prisms.

Goals

Being commissioned during the design of the building was essential to the integration of the work into the project. My goal was to create a meaningful piece that took full advantage of the scale of the space and the changing daylight conditions of the large atrium skylight. Early in the process we decided to enlarge the concept to allow it to begin at both ends in the third story floor spaces and cascade into the central atrium.

Process

Working with the Dayton Art Institute and library design team, we created a number of test models and virtual models to validate our design assumptions. Collaborating with the architects and structural engineers enabled a suspension system of barely visible cables in the structural frame of the large skylight. We also collaborated with a number of fabricators for the custom steel wire, wire bending, electro-polishing, and prism fabrication.

Additional Information

Timing and coordination of the installation had to occur months before the building opened because it required use of a two-man 60 ft., 20,000 lb. boom lift which could not be used on the final terrazzo floor finish.