Ames Landmark
International Competition
First prize awarded to Mark Peters and Rashmi Ramaswamy
2003

material palette
   mist
   colored lights

In collaboration with Rashmi Ramaswamy, this international competition called for turning a 210-foot tall existing electrical power plant into a landmark for the City of Ames, Iowa.

The winning design combines a 400-foot diameter ring of in-ground spotlights, encircling the power plant facility, with a ring of mist suspended 180-feet above the ground. When the spot lights intersect the mist, a "floating" ring is created. The micro fine mist, or fog is produced by pressurized water released thru nozzles in a tube. The water mist evaporates very quickly, eliminating any wetting of the ground or surrounding buildings. The tube ring will be supported by a simple cable structure. The "ring" can be manipulated to change color and intensity as desired and will also reflect interaction with people and vehicles as they cross over the beams of light.