Midnight Palace

Location: Columbus, Indiana
Client: Exhibit Columbus, J. Irwin and Xenia S. Miller Prize
Scope: Installation
Progress/Year: 2021


Midnight Palace is designed for occupants of the midnight city. It asks: What is a public space dedicated to those who live in the nocturnal hours? Columbus is a city of night owls: 39% of the population works in manufacturing, compared to 9% nationwide. Among this late-night group are second and third shift workers, restaurant workers, truckers on I-65, parents of newborns, and residents with families overseas. A lattice-work of electrical conduit, Midnight Palace features a “wall of light” inspired by Columbus’ streetscape: high-pressure sodium fixtures, LED light bulbs, and soffit lighting. Paying homage to the Columbus Drive-In, which closed in 1992. Screens feature community partner programming: from cricket matches to short films.

Photography by Hadley Fruits & David Shalliol

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Washington Street at night in the 1950s Original concept rendering

Mark