Category o
Unusual Ornamental Fabrication

Instructions: Review the entries in this category and make your decision on which entries in this category have your vote for first place (gold), second place (silver) and third place (bronze) awards. Make a note of your choices so that you have them to reference when you are ready to vote. Once you have chosen your three winners in each category (there are a total of 10 categories), you can place your votes online by submitting a Top Job e-Ballot. Only one member per company is allowed to submit a ballot. Questions or problems? Contact us.

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19 Lanterns

Is this a joint venture: No
Category: Unusual Ornamental Fabrication
Designed by: Fabricator
Total Labor Hours: 650
Finish Type: Professional primer and Rustoleum Topcoat on all steel; bronze chemically blackened and then hand rubbed with minwax base and trewax topcoat
Materials Used: Forged mild steel, machined bronze accents and trim on large lanterns and all with exterior LED lighting; sandcast bronze plaque
General Description: Solid forged mild steel Wisteria Vines wrap around two brick columns. These sculptural pieces, along with the large classically designed lamps, flank either side of the grand entrance of the event space parking lot. The large lamps are octagonal in shape with clear glass panels, one of which is hinged to act as a door to access the bulbs. Sandblasted glass pillars house the bulbs and appear as tall pillar candles. Individually unique smaller post lamps, like sketches of the larger sculptures, appear atop each of the lower columns around the area, each with a downlight similar to lighting on Wisteria Vines at either side of grand entrance to the parking lot. Sandcast bronze name plaque also by Fabricator.

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Landmark Renovation

Is this a joint venture: No
Category: Unusual Ornamental Fabrication
Designed by: Architect
Total Labor Hours: 2000
Finish Type: Textured and Patina
Materials Used: Bronze Stainless
General Description: The architect of this landmark building renovation project replaced an aging water feature with a light well. This piece surrounds the light well and acts as a focal point for the plaza. The bronze prongs of the piece arc upwards as a nod to the arches of the building. Bronze tubes were cut lengthwise at a diagonal and rolled to a 16’ radius. The 200 “prongs” were textured with hammers, needle scalers, and then blackened. Each prong mechanically fastens to sleeve welded to the stainless-steel baseplates. Two 5”x1/2”x 24’ diameter bronze compression rings provide additional structure. A 35’ diameter bronze planter ring measuring 13” tall, frames the install. Originally recognized as one of the most significant West Coast Buildings, this renovation helped restore the building’s original status and prominence. The project has won numerous prestigious awards.

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Seashell Shower

Is this a joint venture: No
Category: Unusual Ornamental Fabrication
Designed by: Fabricator
Total Labor Hours: 80
Finish Type: Aged
Materials Used: Copper
General Description: The designer proposed incorporating a seashell as a key feature for a shower design. We created a concept that not only highlights the seashell but also fosters a natural, cohesive feel for the entire system. We recommended using copper to ensure durability in the corrosive environment while allowing it to naturally blend with the surrounding elements. The seashell components were handcrafted and carefully hammered into shape. The main stem, crafted from ¾” copper tubing and forged to resemble bamboo, serves as the water line for the shower. To create balance, we added smaller stems made from ¼” round copper and accompanying leaves. All parts were brazed together using silver solder. After fabrication, the entire piece was acid-washed and treated with a green patina solution to accelerate the aging process and achieve a weathered, natural look. The finished shower is now installed at a beachside restaurant, where it serves as a functional amenity for beachgoers and a captivating artistic feature.

o-0004

Seatbelt Sign Is Off

Is this a joint venture: No
Category: Unusual Ornamental Fabrication
Designed by: Architect
Total Labor Hours: 1200
Finish Type: Clear Anodized
Materials Used: Aluminum, Steel, Stainless Steel Fasteners
General Description: A hefty 32’ tall once standing and 18’ wide, this façade was made up of aluminum tube and panels. From raw 6061 Aluminum tube and plate material, we machined each component, pre-assembled to verify, took it apart to ship for anodizing, then re-assembled and flew it in. The installation conditions were excessively constraining to the team; the whole façade needed to be lifted, bolted, and delicately flown in with forks literally an inch away from the large glass panels of the windows behind it. A sister-sign of lesser height also is fabricated and installed by our team for the Arrivals area, but both have the almost kinetic-like detail of the paneling shifting in shape from a near 2D look to 3D with each fin becoming part of a larger overall shape jutting out from the panel.

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Train Station Public Art

Is this a joint venture: No
Category: Unusual Ornamental Fabrication
Designed by: Fabricator/Architect Jointly
Total Labor Hours: 2103
Finish Type: Tnemec paint
Materials Used: 3/4” Carbon steel round bar and stainless steel embed assemblies
General Description: 3D "tendrils" (a slender threadlike appendage of a climbing plant, often growing in a spiral form) that adorn a large concrete train station near Seattle. Utilizing a roughly 1/24 scale maquet we hot-forged each tendril to the shape and size to fit within the site conditions and to match the artist's intent. Value engineering the installation to be done by others where it was all "bolted together" on-site allowed extra budget monies to produce sphere-like shapes to represent boulders around the facility. Therefore creating continuity between hanging tendrils and "boulders" on the platform walkways. The biggest challenge was developing a method to ship the finished painted components to the site where their existing labor force could perform the installation. A "foolproof" layout and marking system allowed for a near-flawless installation.

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The Room Divide

Is this a joint venture: No
Category: Unusual Ornamental Fabrication
Designed by: Fabricator/Architect Jointly
Total Labor Hours: 1344
Finish Type: Polish, and Paint
Materials Used: Bronze Tubes, Acrylic Tubes, Bronze Mesh
General Description: The Bamboo Wall, an exquisite room divider created for a high-end steakhouse in Texas, exemplifies the pinnacle of collaborative design. This project was a joint effort involving the architect, owner, and subcontractor, resulting in a stunning focal point that enhances the dining experience. The design features vertical columns crafted from acrylic tubing in varying diameters of 6”, 5”, and 4”, elegantly wrapped in premium bronze mesh sourced from Italy. A distinctive 2” solid bronze tubing was also incorporated, adding depth and sophistication to the structure. Each acrylic tube is uniquely varied in height, contributing to a dynamic visual appeal, while select 6” tubes are illuminated from within, creating an inviting ambiance. The meticulous craftsmanship is evident in the custom machined pipes, which the acrylic tubes slip over, all painted to seamlessly match the bronze mesh. The final product not only meets but exceeds the expectations of both the owner and architect, who praised its quality and aesthetic.