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Project Details

Fabric 1

Soltis Perform 92
Producer/Manufacturer: Serge Ferrari North America Inc.
Primary Use: Main Fabric

Engineer Name 1
Trevor Blackann / Craig. Huntington

Engineer Company 1
GuildWorks / Huntington Design

Design Name
Victor Golovin, Delisha Govender, Mar Ricketts

Design Company
GuildWorks

Fabrication Company
GuildWorks

Installation Name
Sebastian Collet, Ian Fritz, Mar Ricketts

Installation Company
GuildWorks

Please describe the project specifications

The client envisioned a large-scale fabric art installation to transform their two-acre central courtyard into an iconic destination that would capture the imagination of university students, convention attendees, and downtown residents. They wanted an artistic centerpiece to create visual drama and encourage people to pause, look up, and experience something extraordinary while naturally providing functional benefits.

"Dancing Sky" features 32 individual fabric pieces in vibrant colors, creating a choreographed composition across 5,820 square feet of overhead space. The installation utilizes two 70-foot steel masts as sculptural elements that anchor the artistic vision, working in harmony with more than 30 custom connection points integrated into the surrounding architecture. Each fabric panel was individually designed and positioned to contribute to the piece's overall artistic rhythm and movement.

What sets this artwork apart is its integration with the existing urban environment, creating the illusion of fabric panels floating independently in space. The engineering challenge was concealing all structural elements while creating the visual effect of weightless fabric dancing overhead. Most connection points could accommodate only single-panel loads, requiring innovative solutions to achieve the artistic vision while maintaining structural integrity. The design eliminates ground-level supports, allowing viewers to experience unobstructed sight lines that enhance the sense of the fabric floating freely above.

The artistic composition required precise coordination to achieve the desired visual relationships between panels while resolving complex structural forces. Each connection point was engineered to disappear visually while handling environmental loads, ensuring the artwork maintains its ethereal quality under all conditions.

"Dancing Sky" has transformed the space into a destination that draws people to gather, photograph, and experience the interplay of color, movement, and light throughout the day. The installation creates an ever-changing canvas as shadows shift and fabric moves, providing the dynamic artistic experience the client envisioned while naturally offering comfort and usability that enhances the urban environment.

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