Slippery Rock Gazette

Natural Stone Institute Member Company PICCO Group  Concord, Ontario, Canada Stone Engineer Other Project Team Members Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Project Client Plensa Studio Barcelona Sculptor Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects Architect R K Marble Group Stone Supplier Precision Stone, Inc. Stone Installer Stone Blanc Absolute marble Judges Comments: A very exciting and challenging project with a tremendous amount of artistic appeal. The texture and fabric of the material reminds one of fossils, for which the color matching seems quite good. Challenging details with the cubic pieces and lifting mechanisms. These were not 2cm slabs. It was all cubic material. The sheer scope and sculptural quality as an interior wall are really something we don’t see much. The subtlety in the shaping and how it goes across the stones is absolutely, stunning. Impressed by the technology used to install and support the stones. The stones are front heavy in many cases and would want to topple forward. When you stand back and look at it, it’s pretty amazing.

Grande Pinnacle Award
Utopia

Grand Rapids, Michigan   

The Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is home to a new and immersive experience. “Utopia” features the unique and diverse ethnic faces of women from around the world in Jaume Plensa’s signature style. The expansive floor-to-ceiling walls are 20 feet tall x 90 feet wide and made from Blanc Absolute marble. No single piece is identical to the next. Grounded and permanent, the art installations’ challenges and execution were only surpassed by its ultimate presence and natural beauty. 

Efforts required early engagement at the project’s most critical time and helped the artist appreciate the limits and opportunities of the pristine white marble. Working closely with the entire project team and sculptor, PICCO’s considerations for material extraction and handling, cubic geometry studies, stone engineering, installation methodology, fabrication approach, and logistics proved intrinsic to meeting the delicate project requirements and high standards. This included items such as custom lifting engineering for onsite stone handling, custom frame design and engineering, and coordination with 3D point cloud scans of the cast-in-place concrete structure.

The sculpture’s exacting design required precision engineering and innovation with every solution. With stone panels ranging from 176 pounds to 9,260 pounds and thicknesses exceeding 27 inches, a robust but simple steel frame system was designed as primary lateral support for the stone. The shear mass and organic shape of the panels mandated center of gravity analysis and an eccentricity review. Additionally, disc-shaped lateral connections proved efficient and saved installation time. The natural character of marble blocks was transformed physically and spiritually by the artist’s vision and skill. The essence of this prominent sculpture will endure as a testament to Women & Humanity and Art & Architecture for generations to enjoy.