In support of City of Austin Art in Public Places noble program, we have provided low-cost structural engineering services for art installations in downtown Austin, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and throughout the City for local artists.
Kempelen’s Owls by artist group New American Public Art (NAPA) is a permanent installation commissioned by the City of Austin’s Economic Development Division, Art in Public Places program. The pair of sculptures is part of the Greenwater Redevelopment Plan and is located in front of the Proper Hotel in Austin’s downtown 2nd Street District.
Standing 10 feet tall, each sculpture is composed of approximately 3,000 parts, including more than 500 machined components within the mechanical base. This mechanism allows the integrated bench to be manipulated, causing the owl’s head to rotate 360 degrees.
NAPA fabricated the sculptures from stainless steel and Corian (a solid surface material) during their residency at Autodesk BUILD Space in Boston, where they had access to CNC machines, robotic arms, 3D printers, and world-class technical support.
Kempelen’s Owls are illuminated from dusk to dawn, featuring large, glowing eyes and a dodecahedron-shaped perch. Hollingsworth Pack served as the structural engineer of record for the project.
The term “Thomasson” was coined by artist Akasegawa Genpei to describe useless architectural remnants—such as bricked-up windows—that remain in the urban landscape after buildings are renovated or partially demolished.
This artwork imagines a Thomasson for this site, using the language of building components to evoke questions about both past and future. Colorful bricks wrap over and conceal a base layer of cinder blocks, suggesting remnants of previous structures.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is one of the fastest-growing airports in the United States, reflecting the remarkable growth and increasing appeal of Austin as a center for culture, arts, and technology.
Serving both residents and travelers from around the world, the AUS Terminal Expansion Phase II accommodates an additional four million passengers and supports the airport’s mission to be the “Gateway to the World for All.”
Convergence / Austin is a site-responsive public art installation that reflects and responds to the airport’s purpose, growth, and commitment to excellence.
