Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Washington, USA, 2011

Emerald City is a landmark artwork along the roadway and light rail line entering Sea-Tac Airport. The piece portrays a towering “ecotopia” composed of illuminated and planted terraces and spires that create a portal. Three stainless steel scaffolding-like towers are planted with flowering vines that are slowly grow up the structures. The structures are up-lit with green LEDs to further convey the greening of the city in a metaphoric way. Leading up to the portal are undulating earthworks retained by linear gabion walls and planted with seasonally dynamic groundcovers that allude to the landscapes and waterscapes of Washington State. A clock tower in the median is composed of protruding and receding stainless steel fins. Green crystalline photovoltaic panels integrated into fins on the south side of the tower tie the idea of renewable energy production to the “greening” of the city. The photovoltaic system powers LED light fixtures inside the clock tower that change color with the air temperature, ranging from blue (cold) to green (moderate) to gold (hot). 

Emerald City was commissioned by the Port of Seattle.