Boston, MA
Symphony Park Sculpture
Scope/Solutions
As part of Symphony Park’s redesign, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department collaborated with the Boston Art Commission and the Friends of Symphony Park to select Jacob Kulin to design a sculpture for the park. Celebrating the nearby Berklee College of Music and Symphony Hall, Kulin’s design embraces the shapes of string instruments in his modern Scandinavian style. SGH consulted on the structural design for the 16 ft tall sculpture, First Chair.
SGH analyzed and evaluated the proposed structure for the sculpture, comprising Cor-ten steel, stainless steel, bronze, and granite. Highlights of our work include the following:
- Recommended modifications to the proposed design to increase stability and durability
- Designed the precast concrete foundation and the sculpture’s anchorage
- Detailed stone seat and curb
- Prepared permit drawings and foundation package drawings
- Performed parametric modeling of sculpture hardware and developed renderings and animations to demonstrate the design to approvers
- Provided the fabrication team with direct-to-digital fabrication files for the steel components
- Developed assembly and shop erection drawings
- Reviewed foundation and stonework shop drawings to compare with the design intent
Project Summary
Solutions
New Construction
Services
Structures
Markets
Culture & Entertainment
Client(s)
Kulin Modern
Key team members
John Thomsen
Managing Principal, New Structural Design, Boston
Additional Projects
Northeast
Boston Public Library
The Boston Public Library, an Italian Renaissance Revival building completed in 1895, was designed by McKim Mead & White. The Boston Public Library needed a complete restoration. SGH was the structural engineer and building enclosure consultant for a major rehabilitation and renovation.
Northeast
Edward A. LeLacheur Park
The City of Lowell wanted to build a stadium for the Division A Lowell Spinners minor league baseball team on a site formerly used as an urban landfill. SGH was the structural engineer and building enclosure consultant for the 4,670-seat baseball stadium designed by HOK Sport.


