A-Spire
STSS, University of Minnesota

Two cones reaching toward each other. The upper cone is composed of 16 stainless steel cables (16 is also the number of skylight mullions above the sculpture). This cone of cables supports a spiral made of vivid dichroic glass. The spiral unravels above the third floor, untangling into codependent strips of dichroic glass, which follow the curves of the stairway and atrium-floor openings. The spiral(s) revolves in the direction opposite to that of the main stairwell.

The lower cone, meanwhile, develops from ground level. A web of cables hold a stainless steel spiral positioned in front of an array of letters, numerals and scientific symbols representing the fundamentals of science. The spiral itself, minimalistic in approach, contains images related to the subjects taught at the building. As part of the architectural treatment of the spiral, these images are embedded into recessed half-spheres of polished stainless steel. The height of the suspended portion of the sculpture totals 80 ft. The sculpture’s functional base (20’ diameter) is made of a mirror finished blue stainless steel, along with 800 programmable color-changing LED lights. Beneath the base, embedded letters/numerals spill onto the visible portion of the floor from the cone sculpture above.

Alexander Tylevich - Artist
KPF Architects
HGA Architects and Engineers
Peters Glass Studios

Dichroic glass, stainless steel, blue stainless steel, bronze, terrazzo, 800 color-controlled LED lights, 80'x20'x20'