Aluminum rods help create a sculpture of shimmering, cascading light
More than 40 million visitors a year visit over 520 retail and specialty stores at Mall of America, Bloomington, Minn. For its southeast expansion, conceived and designed as an elegant destination space animated by architectural frames of light and material, a hanging rod art project was designed, engineered, fabricated and installed by MG McGrath, Maplewood, Minn. It has 4,000 1/2-inch diameter aluminum rods in six different anodized finishes hanging on 1-mm stainless steel cables.
“Lighting developed a key component to defining and enlivening the space,” says Mike P. McGrath, president of MG McGrath. “While the stepped ceiling coves defined by light frames deliver soothing ambient light, the translucent glow from the newly refurbished skylight and the delicate glinting light reflected off the metal suspended rods add a sense of drama to the space. Inspired by artists like Carol Bove and Harry Bertoia, the methodically placed vertical aluminum rods of different colors and lengths literally create a cascade of light, shadow and reflections when viewed from different angles, like the refined glinting of sunlight on water.”
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The hanging art installation needed to be cutting edge and original to differentiate the high-end retail space of the mall. “The rod art needed to be heavy enough so it wouldn’t sway in drafty conditions, yet light enough that it didn’t need additional heavy structural support,” says Phil Stien, AIA, senior associate at DLR Group, Minneapolis, the local architecture firm for the project. “Aluminum rods offered the right solution. The aluminum rods offer a consistent, lightweight material that allows for a range of colors and finishes. In addition, the rods can support other items such as the LED lighting. The LED lighting was introduced to activate the art installation. Mall guests that walk by it see different light reflections passing through the artwork, which is heightened by the finish of the aluminum rods.”
No off-the-shelf lighting products met the requirements for this unique and custom project, and many custom manufacturers said that fitting a fixture within the 3/8-inch inner diameter rod was not practical. Lighting supplier HK Lighting, Newbury Park, Calif., stepped up to the challenge and worked closely with the design architect Gabellini Sheppard, New York City; lighting consultant Cooley Monato Studio, New York City; general contractor Mortenson Construction, Chicago; and MG McGrath to develop an effective solution. LEDs were designated for their long life and compact size. Stylmark Inc., Minneapolis, supplied the aluminum.
“HK Lighting developed tiny modified LED components and electrical quick-disconnects were used to allow for upkeep,” says McGrath. “The hollow rods themselves covered custom support hardware, steel cables and electrical wiring. Gabellini Sheppard carefully arranged the rods to generate the appearance of randomness from all perspectives.”
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The six different anodized finishes ultimately chosen to maximize its visual impression were: buffed satin white gold, buffed satin stainless steel, buffed brite bronze, buffed brite brown, buffed brite stainless steel and fiery fuchsia. McGrath believes all of this gives the sculpture a shimmering, cascading light essential for defining the distinctive atmosphere of the southeast expansion.
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Mall of America rod art project, Bloomington, Minn.
Completed: December 2012
Total square footage: 4,000 rods
Building owner: Mall of America
Architect: DLR Group, Chicago, www.dlrgroup.com
Design architect: Gabellini Sheppard Associates, New York City,
www.gabellinisheppard.com
General contractor: Mortenson Construction, Chicago, www.mortenson.com
Lighting consultant: Cooley Monato Studio, New York City, www.cooleymonato.com
Lighting supplier: HK Lighting, Newbury Park, Calif., www.hklightinggroup.com
Metal fabricator/installer: MG McGrath, Maplewood, Minn., www.mgmcgrath.com
Aluminum supplier: Stylmark Inc., Minneapolis, www.stylmark.com