Chicago's Constellation Sculpture Installation Completed

(CHICAGO) – River Point partners Ivanhoé Cambridge, Hines and Levy Family Partners are pleased to present the completion of the Constellation, a Calatrava sculpture for River Point Park, featuring the red leafy sculpture now showcased for your viewing.

World renowned Spanish-Swiss architect, structural engineer, sculptor and painter Santiago Calatrava created this unique and vibrant sculpture, now installed in the park at River Point. Calatrava’s intention in this sculpture is for it to simply grow from the ground. Within each figure, an internal logic of autonomy delivers lyrical forms and implies a sense of elevation and spiritual uplifting, reflecting the building’s mirrored architectural arch.

“I feel very honored that my work was chosen to be integrated in the streetscape of Chicago, a city with such an extraordinary tradition of urban art and architecture,” said the sculpture’s author, Santiago Calatrava.

The Constellation stands 29 feet in height and width, with twists in an outward reaching spiral constructed of overlapping leaflike elements descending in scale from very large at the sculpture’s base to very small at the outer reach of the sculpture’s spiral form. When approached from any angle, the massive layered spiral reveals stunning architectural depth, overhand and movement.

“River Point is a world-class project that has reshaped the iconic Chicago skyline,” said Jim Walsh, Senior Managing Director at Hines’ Chicago regional office. “The reflections of the bright red sculpture on the River and the glass tower is an amazing sight to see. It is a great artistic touch to our plaza and the riverfront.”

“Chicagoans have been highly anticipating the arrival of this sculpture and we are excited to welcome this as a new focal point in the city’s rich history of world class architecture and outdoor public sculpture. I am very proud that the model used in selecting the Calatrava sculpture will be displayed at the Art Institute of Chicago alongside models for Chicago’s Picasso, Calder and Dubuffet sculptures,” added Larry Levy, Managing Partner of Levy Family Partners. “I am sincerely grateful to former Mayor Rahm Emanuel who persisted in creating a beautiful sculpture on River Point Park during his term in office.”