Nautilus

SOFTlab

Located at Pier 17 in Manhattan’s historic Seaport District, the site specific installation’s is composed of mast-like elements that blend the pier’s edge with the surrounding docked ships. These “masts” comprise a field of ninety-six touch activated poles that create an unexpected symphony of sound and light on contact. As a person touches the middle portion of a pole it activates a specific tone based on the metrics of their touch. As that tone is played, lights in the surrounding poles react with a pulse emanating from that pole. When multiple people activate poles, the installation plays them in sequence. At the center of the installation is a circular area surrounded by a spectrum of acrylic panels for people to view adjacent activity through various colored lenses.

Project Type: Lighting/Sound Installation

Completed: 2019

Location: New York, NY

Team: David Franck, Liz Kelsey, Michael Szivos, Ryan Whitby

Stratus, in the historic lobby of 315 Montgomery in San Francisco, commissioned by Vornado Realty Trust. Stratus, on view from the street 24 hours a day, consists of a layered array of brass tubes that contrast with the ornate architecture of the lobby in its simplicity. The brass tubes are punctuated by a cloud-like pattern of laser-cut holes; each tube houses a custom LED and diffuser assembly and is programmed with a subtle light pattern that simulates air flow. The two layers of brass tubes are staggered, giving the animated light a three dimensional effect, which is enhanced as the light from one tube reflects off of its neighbors. During the day the assembly comes together in the shape of a light organ, while at night, the tubes fade into the background and the cloud-like LEDs appear to flow through the back wall of the lobby. 315 Montgomery Street, part of the Bank of America complex, is a 16-story office tower in the financial district of San Francisco which was originally built in 1922.