Client: General Services Administration
Location: Los Angeles, CA, United States
Completion date: 2016
Project Team
Artist
Marcel Machler
Marcel Machler Inc.
Architect
Lonny Israel
SOM
Overview
Carving of 8.75″ tall Building ID and 4'6″Ø Federal Seal as a bas-relief in Indiana Limestone. Work was performed on-site after installation of stone panels.
Goals
The goal was to include a permanent design of both Federal ID and building ID into the walls of the Courthouse next to the main entrance. Carved in stone is proven to be the most durable of all options.
Process
Collaboration with the architect Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP was important in bringing out the two dimensional details on paper into a seemingly three dimensional bas-relief carving. Whereas the design of most details was fairly straight forward, the glory (the "big bang" of the first thirteen states) above the eagle's head had to be developed due to lack of previously existing examples. Detail surface textures of the different images and elements also needed to be developed.
Additional Information
Building ID V-groove letters and Federal Seal carving required two months of on-site work.