OUCOM
Case Study: Kinetic Sculpture, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Academic Office Building
It greets everyone who walks into the atrium at the OU College of Medicine, spinning gracefully overhead, its serene revolutions belying the incredible, intricate engineering and fabrication that brought it to life.
The sculpture is large, matching the scale of the atrium it occupies: it spans 27 vertical feet and is 12 feet in diameter. It’s illuminated from within, and can change color. Custom-made gears allow sections of the sculpture to spin at different rates. The gears are similar to bicycle gears, but on a huge scale: 9, 10 and 12 feet in diameter. The exterior sections are made of translucent plastic and are suspended on stainless steel rods.
“The mechanics you can’t see are the most impressive,” said Artform Founder and Principal Josh Livingston. This project utilized a great deal of technology in both 3D modeling software and 3D scanning – in addition to traditional custom fabrication processes. We are a digital industrial company.”
“Ninety percent of the raw materials used in fabrication of the project were sourced within a few miles of Artform. That’s something we are proud of,” Livingston said.
The architect, Oklahoma City-based Bockus Payne, conceived the vision for this important sculpture. Artform was asked to bring it to life, lending its expertise in design development, problem solving, mechanics and fabrication. Artform staff took the concept and created theoretical drawings, animations and ultimately an intelligent 3D model before fabrication began. 3D scanning was even implemented during construction to capture all ceiling elements for installation planning.
The new OU College of Medicine Academic Office Building is a nine-story structure located on the OU College of Medicine Campus. Designed by Bockus Payne Architects, it is a project of the University Hospitals Authority and Trust. The project is a part of the school’s vision to be the premiere enterprise for advancing health care, medical education and research for the community, state and region.
Artform was commission to design and engineer a sculpture in the 3-story atrium of the new OU College of Medicine’s 9-story academic tower. Conceived by architectural firm Bockus Payne Architecture, the sculpture is comprised of a series of curved translucent white panels suspended from a rotating motorized gear assembly concealed in the ceiling of the lobby. Artform designed a programmable DMX lighting solution that allows for total control of daytime and evening illumination color.
Credits:
Architect: Bockus Payne Architecture