Midnight Palace
A public space for night owls, including Columbus’ many night shift workers, inspired by the historical colors of streetlights.
Columbus is a city of night owls. In Columbus, 39% of the population works in manufacturing, compared to 9% nationwide. Among this group, many Second and Third Shift workers begin their “days” in the evening and finish work in the morning. Other residents also burn the midnight oil: restaurant workers, truckers on I65, parents of newborns, dedicated stargazers, residents with families overseas. However, many civic and amenity spaces only serve the sunlit-hours. How can we design for the midnight city?
“Midnight Palace” is inspired by the atmospheric qualities of nighttime and designed for the city’s night owls. Located at the Cummins Sears Building, it features a “wall of light” made from the historic light-bulbs from Columbus’ streetscape: old high-pressure sodium fixtures, contemporary LEDs, signal lights for the adjacent train. Built from a lattice-work of electrical conduit, its construction highlights the elegant and often invisible craft of trade electricians. The pavilion will feature a series of “drive-in” and “walk-by” screens for gatherings of different scales, including partner programming with community organizations. Additionally, the screens will present a participatory work, “Night Owl Map of Columbus,” highlighting the interviews with residents and the city’s nighttime wonders, past, present and future.
This project was commissioned as part of Exhibit Columbus 2021.
News & Recognition
The Republic
“Midnight light: Sears/Cummins building aims to be overnight sensation"
Wallpaper*
"Architects create Indiana installations as Exhibit Columbus opens”
Info
Location: Columbus, Indiana
Client: Exhibit Columbus, J. Irwin and Xenia S. Miller Prize
Progress/Year: Completed, 2021
Team
Builder: Gaylor Electric
Photography: Hadley Fruits & David Shalliol
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