Fiberglass Architectural Sculpture with Professional Grade Finish

Client: Zaha Hadid Architects, London, England

Advanced composite technology is turning up in the most interesting places and CCTI is on the cutting edge of new applications. Asked to create two fiberglass sculptures for Zaha Hadid Architects in the U.K., the biggest challenge was timing. The massive, "Stalactites" (measuring 9'11"x20'5"x14') and "Relief 1" (9'11"x20'9"x4' 3") were slated to appear in a New York gallery exhibition, just six weeks from the start of the project.

As the lead contractor, Steve Hassett cherry-picked a team that included players from Maine to Florida. Creating the two mega-works involved cutting numerous intricate shapes all of which were joined in the composite phase. The CNC cutting was split between Maine shop, Janseneering, and Florida-based, Mollicam. From Maine, the pieces were driven to Rhode Island to receive their signature, high-gloss finish, courtesy of Itchiban Yacht Painters.

Figuring out how to install "Stalactites" was the next challenge. There was nothing but sheetrock hanging from the ceiling of the gallery, so the team had to create a structurally sound mount that could support the eighteen individual stalactites—a bit like putting a giant jigsaw puzzle together upside down, working with pieces that weighed hundreds of pounds. In the end, bolts were integrated in the tops of the stalactites and the larger ones were actually screwed into the ceiling.