Commissioning Agency: Arts and Science Council Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Site: Charlotte Douglas International Airport,  Terminal Lobby Expansion, Charlotte, NC
Architect: Gresham Smith
Engineers: Lera+
Lighting: Signify, RGB Lighting
Fabrication: Rainier Industries
Installation: Imagine Design

If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it. – Toni Morrison

MERIDIAN anchors the East and West Ends of the Charlotte International Airport Terminal lobby with a self-illuminating, algorithmically-driven set of twin sculptures. The sculptures’ form traverses a layered ‘DNA’ of orbital spatial relationships, from the airport flight patterns globally to the arching pathways of the interior and exterior architectures. The cycle of departure and return is featured in the spiraling motion, accentuated by the dynamic movement of the integrated, programmable lighting moving through each sculpture based on community participant Geo-data.

Each sculpture functions as a gateway to the East and West End atrium bays while framing skyline views to the East. MERIDIAN’s East/West juxtapositions enable both sides of the form to be experienced from exterior vehicular and pedestrian corridors. Upper level mezzanine views incorporate airy floating perspectives, while subterranean escalator and stair entrances reveal dynamic canopy views upon arrival to the Terminal floor. These locations anchor the visitors’ experience, creating interior destinations and contributing to wayfinding strategies.

The innovative design process incorporates the first-of-its-kind LED embedded, perforated stainless steel pipe with multi-axis movements and an algorithmically designed fluctuating spherical particulate pattern. Bi-colored stainless steel sphere surfaces feature an internal canopy that extends the golden yellow skylights found within the architectural interior.

All of the innovative concepts and solutions support a dynamic, time-based experience that offers reflection on the personal and collective ways we navigate our place in the world.

MERIDIAN welcomes each of Charlotte’s 48 million annual travelers to this memorable destination, contributing to the Queen City’s role as a great transit corridor of the world, a visionary destination, and an epicenter of creative innovation.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Over a two year period, Danielle Roney engaged the Charlotte community in the tracing of hundreds of personal geographic histories through an online survey and vocal database recordings, which have been spatially mapped as unique Geo-Data Coordinates within Meridian’s LED integrated lighting. Articulating movements across the sculptures, these illuminated pathways highlight how we come together to create communities.

Learn more about the project on the dedicated community web site.