Skier s Edge Vail, CO Architect: Gail Folwell The Skier s Edge is a bronze sculpture at the base of the Vista Bahn ski lift a the Vail ski resort. designed a stainless steel skeleton to fit within the body of the skier. The arms, skis and ski poles were all designed as bronze structural members. also designed the foundation and core-ten concrete composite pedestal.
Heavy Timber Private Residential Stair Aspen, CO Designer: Stepping outside of our typical role served as the principle designer of this stair for a private residence in Aspen. The stair makes use of glulam beams laid flat as treads. Individual treads are fastened to adjacent treads with a torsionally rigid connection to create a sculptural floating stair. provided all renderings, drawings and concept ideas for the stair.
Rolling Stones Bridges to Babylon Tour Multiple Sites USA Architect: Mark Fisher For the Bridges to Babylon tour the traveling stage had many elements that were designed for a wide range of atmospheric design conditions including wind and seismic for many sites in the United States. Notable design elements include the lateral stabilization and the retractable bridge. Because the stage could not be positively anchored due to the variety of venues and erection constraints, tanks filled with water were used as ballast to prevent overturning. The bridge is inspired by a fireman's ladder. The bridge cantilevers horizontally from the stage to a stage at the center of the audience. The bridge was driven by a pulley system which incrementally extends each segment of the bridge simultaneously. Personal experience of Chris O Hara at M.G. McLaren
Twister Ride It Out! Universal Studios Florida, Orlando, Florida Client: Scenic Technologies The Twister project consisted of the design of a set for a re-enactment of one of the critical scenes of the motion picture of the same name. This amusement park ride simulates the destructive force of a tornado. The ride consists of multiple effects below, above and in front of the audience. Notable effects include the awning drop, neon sign, floor drop, splitting tree, and swaying trees. The show effects were driven by hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders except for the neon sign which is driven by a rotary engine. In addition to the complicated motion profiles of the elements, the most difficult portion of the design involves the fatigue of the members and connections. Personal experience of Chris O Hara at M.G. McLaren
Scott Carpenter Park Boulder, Colorado Client: City of Boulder The park named to honor Boulder native Scott Carpenter, one of the original Mercury astronauts is located by Boulder Creek and is a much-loved part of the City s recreational facilities. A 1970 s playground climbing frame in the shape of a rocket is a favorite feature of the park; Play Environments redesigned the park around this feature and added space elements in adjacent play spaces. The first challenge was stabilizing the rocket. Over time its foundation had settled and voids had opened up beneath it causing the rocket to wobble when people were inside. Analysis determined that the ground beneath the existing footing should be pressuregrouted with a sand-cement slurry to fill all the voids. After this was completed, strengthening plates were designed to be welded to the rocket s fins to reinforce the severely corroded steel. Additional steel bars were welded midway between the existing steel bars that formed the rocket s skin, so that small children could not get stuck between the existing bars. Second, foundations for a sound sculpture composed of two facing stainless steel reflecting dishes is another unique feature in the park. Personal experience of Julian Lineham at Loris.
2003 European Cultural Exhibit Graz, Austria Artist: Vito Acconci This project consisted of the schematic design of a floating island which was then completed by local Austrian engineers. The island was designed to create the feeling of being within the Mur river. This was achieved using a flowing geometry of glass and stainless steel with water running over the top. Personal experience of Chris O Hara at DMP.