Sacramento artist Bryan Valenzuela came to Dreyfuss + Blackford after being selected by the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission to design and create a work of public art inside Golden 1 Center.

He gave us his vision and drawings of a suspended river of 400 handmade glass spheres ranging in size from 12-20” in diameter. A discussion began about the kinds of materials and structural systems that would be needed to build this suspended artwork. We used this information, along with the artist’s input and feedback to create a 3D model and set of renderings for approval from the City of Sacramento.

When the Arts Commission requested major changes to the design, we worked with the artist to rebuild the model in keeping with his vision for the piece. Our 3D model was also used by engineers to run the structural analysis for the sculpture, in addition to fabrication of the curved steel support rods and placement of the vertical supports.