SURGE

Twin Dolphin Life Sciences Complex, Redwood City, California
Commissioned by the Trammell Crow Company
37.521916, -122.262478
2025

  • Surge is suspended in the main entry atrium for a new life sciences campus. 

    The sculpture is inspired by the marshlands directly east of Twin Dolphin. The form of the sculpture is based on the energy of breaking waves dissipating through marsh sea grasses. Each of the thousands of cast forms that make up the shape of the sculpture is drawn from microscopic views of cord grass (spartina alterniflora). By presenting these translucent cross-sections, we can consider the plants ability to draw oxygen down through its stem to its submerged rhizome foundation below the seabed. The primary conduits that deliver sustenance from above are a series of larger cell passages that radiate in a circular pattern around the perimeter of each stem when seen in cross-section.

    The sculpture is 8 feet high x 20 feet x 20 feet composed of 3,600 unique cast resin forms, each encircled by a wood ring and suspended from the ceiling with 1/32” stainless steel wire rope.

    Daniele Rocha curated the building. Leonardo Buendia was project architect with DGA. Truebeck Construction facilitated installation. Gary Gill structural engineering.

SURGE

Twin Dolphin Life Sciences Complex, Redwood City, California
Commissioned by the Trammell Crow Company
37.521916, -122.262478
2025

 

Surge is suspended in the main entry atrium for a new life sciences campus. 

The sculpture is inspired by the marshlands directly east of Twin Dolphin. The form of the sculpture is based on the energy of breaking waves dissipating through marsh sea grasses. Each of the thousands of cast forms that make up the shape of the sculpture is drawn from microscopic views of cord grass (spartina alterniflora). By presenting these translucent cross-sections, we can consider the plants ability to draw oxygen down through its stem to its submerged rhizome foundation below the seabed. The primary conduits that deliver sustenance from above are a series of larger cell passages that radiate in a circular pattern around the perimeter of each stem when seen in cross-section.

The sculpture is 8 feet high x 20 feet x 20 feet composed of 3,600 unique cast resin forms, each encircled by a wood ring and suspended from the ceiling with 1/32” stainless steel wire rope.

Daniele Rocha curated the building. Leonardo Buendia was project architect with DGA. Truebeck Construction facilitated installation. Gary Gill structural engineering.

PROCESS

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