Campus art feature construction begins this week

Internationally renowned artist James Carpenter has created a 120-foot light tower to serve as the UNMC campus art feature in the student plaza. Construction on the art feature begins this week.

The start of construction this week on a 120-foot light tower by internationally-renowned artist James Carpenter will move UNMC another step closer to having a true academic campus.

The monument will sit west of the Harold M. and Beverly Maurer Center for Public Health.

“It’s a great honor for UNMC to be the site of James Carpenter’s first piece in Nebraska,” said UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D. “This monument fits perfectly into our academic campus area and it will help enhance the student experience at the medical center.”

Carpenter is known for his use of light reflections. Some of his other notable projects include:

• 7 World Trade Tower in New York, and
  
• Brooklyn Bridge Park.

For the UNMC monument, Carpenter will use stainless steel and natural light to “embody UNMC’s scientific character and the most ephemeral atmospheric qualities of Nebraska’s skies.”

In his own words Read UNMC Today later this week for an interview with James Carpenter about the new campus art feature.

Campus officials estimate it will take two weeks to construct the monument.

Omaha philanthropists Ruth and Bill Scott were the lead donors for the art piece, which was paid for entirely by private donations as part of a 2008 gift for the construction of the UNMC student plaza.