Objectives
This project is a commission under the Oregon One Percent for the Arts in Public Building Programs for the Cordley Hall Renovation at Oregon State University. Working with the departments of Integrative Biology and Botany and Plant Pathology, the artist, Ann Hamilton, proposed to emboss the courtyard pavement with the running sequence of the DNA code from the last universal common ancestor (LUCA), a code contained in the genetic material of all living things.
Solutions
To achieve this goal, the team chose segmental concrete pavers, which resemble alphabetic letters in printing. Each paver was custom stamped with a metal shoe to display a single part of the (LUCA) DNA code and laid out in sequence according to its color, direction, and marked letter. Western Interlock, the paver fabricators, developed a dry concrete process that allowed custom stamping and produced a beautiful product. The installation team at Sequoia Stonescapes meticulously laid the pavers over the 6,000-square-foot courtyard.
Results
The final installation is a stunning display of art and science, blending the fields of biology and design. The pavers, varying in color, create long strings of snaking letters that spell out a sampling of text by biologist William Emerson Ritter, reinterpreted to reflect the beauty and interconnectedness of life. The artist, Ann Hamilton, and the university hope the success of this collaboration and the beauty of the courtyard will inspire future collaborations between artists and scientists.
Team & Location
Owner: Oregon State University
Designer: PLACE and Ann Hamilton Studio
Producer: Western Interlock
Installer: Sequoia Stonescapes, Inc.
Project Location: Corvallis, OR