07-14-08 | Sapphire Tower Shatters Public Art Boundaries
08-13-07 | Grand sculptures to complement Sapphire Tower
residential high-rise
August 13, 2007
Grand sculptures to complement Sapphire Tower
residential high-rise
Developers of Sapphire Tower are building more than just a residential high-rise in Little Italy. Newport Beach-based Centurion Partners unveiled plans in late July at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego to install two large-scale public art sculptures downtown.
The two sculptures estimated to cost more than $500,000 combined will be located just a block away from the museum on Sapphire Tower's grounds. Sapphire Tower is a 32-story, 97-unit residential project under construction on the southwest corner of Kettner Boulevard and A Street.
An impressive eight-story sculpture abstractly resembling a ring will run vertically along the side of the building. This modern piece will be 79 feet high and made of metal and glass. Aluminum panels and steel beams will serve as the setting and two different textured glass colors as the gemstones.
The second of the two pieces will be a series of nine columns with historical mosaic murals. Each of the nine columns, spaced 25 feet apart, will include a 40-square-foot mosaic mural. These murals will be visible on all sides. The sculptures are expected to be installed in the summer of 2008. Sapphire Tower is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2008.
"As Sapphire Tower is joining an artistic district, we are proud and pleased to make this contribution," said Greg Henderson, chief operating officer for Centurion Partners. "Not only is the architecture aesthetically pleasing, we've included art on the building on a grade scale and at the pedestrian level. For future ArtWalks downtown, I think Sapphire Tower will definitely be included."
Both public art pieces will be completed by local artist Betsy Schultz with collaboration from the San Diego Historical Society and students from local schools. Schultz designed the award-winning Gateway Arches in Solana Beach.
Centurion Partners also donated $10,000 to the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego.
