Overview
TLC provided structural engineering services for Loqui, a 32-by-32-foot interactive sculpture at the Nashville Fairgrounds that creates a dynamic display of color, light, and community storytelling. Constructed from stainless steel and polycarbonate with programmable LED lighting, the artwork glows with shifting colors and features words and phrases etched in stainless steel across its surface.
The structure consists of a series of arches in one direction and rings in the other, creating a 3-dimensional space frame of stainless steel. Each structural member is an I-shape, with a plate cut to follow the curve as the web, and the welded flanges shaped to match the curve. The three bottom arches connect to the foundation, with the rest of the sculpture launching from the bottom three arches. Named for the Latin word meaning “to speak,” Loqui highlights community storytelling and invites visitors to experience self-expression. Inspired by the celebratory energy of the square, the sculpture’s surface pattern is formed from text collected during public outreach, translating community voices and aspirations into light and form.
