DSF/Wisconsin Arts Board Project Wins National Award

The Wisconsin Arts Board and the Division of State Facilities are pleased to announce that the terrazzo floor in the atrium of the Engineering Centers building on the UW Madison campus has won the National Terrazzo & Mosaic Association “JOB OF THE YEAR” award for projects completed in 2002.

Artist Scott Parsons’ design, titled ‘ALGORITHMIC TAPESTRY’ is a colorful, bold and dynamic terrazzo work covering over 11,000 square feet of the first floor atrium and corridor space in this major new building for the College of Engineering. Imagery in the design is based on geometric algorithms used by engineers in the study of such things as nanocrystals, engine technology, microchips, and bio-mechanics.

The Wisconsin Arts Board’s Percent-For-Art Program established the initial budget for art work in the project, and chose Scott Parsons as the artist in a competitive selection process. DSF Project Manager Russ Van Gilder, and Percent-For-Art Program Coordinator Chris Manke worked closely with Scott, UW Madison Facilities Planning and Management representatives, the College of Engineering Dean’s office, and architectural designers from Kohn Pederson Fox and Flad & Associates to integrate the artwork into the overall building design. Funding already in the construction budget for flooring in the atrium was added to the Percent-For-Art funding to increase the scale and impact of the artwork. DSF Construction Coordinator Tammy Olson managed the close coordination needed during the four months when the flooring was being installed. General contractor J.P. Cullen & Sons and terrazzo contractor R.D. Roman were willing and excited to be working alongside Scott, despite the complexity of the installation and extraordinary attention to detail needed to achieve the artist’s vision.

Award-winning building projects and public art works—and the government employees and artists who make them happen—should be recognized for their contributions to the high quality of life we enjoy in Wisconsin.

Photo by Jim Wildeman.
 

Date Posted: August 25, 2003
Contact: Chris Manke, 608/266-9737