Golden Triangle Art Canopies
Project Location
Washington, DC
Project Type
– Specialty Structures
Four temporary art canopies revitalizing public engagement in the city of Washington, DC.
The Project
An intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and H Street NW in Washington, DC created an intersection that comes together at a shallow angle, too narrow for an efficient use of vehicular traffic and park space. These canopy sculptures- lightly shading its users- are convenient as an outdoor place to sit and socialize as well as incorporate artwork in an urban setting. The most aesthetically significant element of the canopy sculptures is the large triangular panel. Each panel is 14′-0″ long and comprised of smaller triangular sheets of plexiglass or steel. The triangular frame was bolted to post’s cap plate and the post fit tightly onto a concrete base. The base provided seating for users and echoed the geometry of the feature element and brings the focus of the sculpture back to the starkness of the triangular frame assembly.
Structrual Features
Each side of the panel is 14’-0” long and comprised of smaller triangular sheets of plexiglass or steel. The tube sizes were minimized to create a flat profile. The small triangular sheets were fastened at each of its three corners to the tubes. The triangular frame assembly was bolted to the post’s cap plate and the post fit tightly over a tube stub embedded in the concrete base. In addition to stabilizing the canopy sculpture, the 18-inch-thick concrete base – measuring 5’-6” on each side – provides a seating area for users. The sculptures were designed to conventional IBC requirements
Detailing the structure involved incorporating elements of the aesthetic qualities of the structure. Careful attention was paid to the uniformity of the triangular sheets by specifying work points and welding conditions at each type of tube connection. The tubes of the triangular frame assembly were shop-welded and ground smooth. The finished welds produced connections that made the welds invisible. When painted black, the tube frame showed no evidence of seams. The brightly colored plexiglass sheets stand out as the starkest feature of the sculpture.
