Client: Housing Authority of the City of Fort Lauderdale and AP Communities
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
Completion date: 2022
Artwork budget: $200,000
Project Team
Artist
Scot DiStefano
Scot DiStefano Architect LLC
Project Manager for HACFL
Scott Strawbridge
Center for Sustainable, Healthy, Equitable Communities Inc.
Development Manager for AP Communities
Oscar Hentshel
AP Communities
Fabricator
Victor Arias
Victor Steel Corp
Overview
The WAAV in Fort Lauderdale operates on several levels of meaning. It is a reference, homage even, to the Wave Trolley Project once slated for Downtown Fort Lauderdale. When that project was terminated the acquired assets were sold off. This site was sold to the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Lauderdale where a significant Affordable Housing Project was built. Located along the railroad and adjacent to some abandoned spurs, the aesthetic pretty much established itself. Finally, the long tradition of waving at complete stranger on a passing train was given form with this piece – forever waving at the passing trains.
Goals
The piece was not initially intended to be integrated with the architecture, but once the mass model was built, it was clear the sculpture wanted to be immediately adjacent to the building and not out by the spur. Located as the entry feature to the building, the occupants get to experience the work from afar, while in transit to and from the building, and as a shaded seating area.
Process
The project was conceptualized by Scott Strawbridge, former head of HACFL and, at the time, working as a NFP on behalf of HACFL. Scott said "I don't want to tell you what to do, but if you can conceptualize this as a "wave" that would be great... then he explained why.
The fabricator, Victor Steel, is an established artist and fabricator who did not flinch at the prospect of building this sculpture. He was also receptive to the request of the artist to come into his shop and actually assist with the fabrication of the art.
Additional Information
The project will be completed in June 2022. It was been a privilege to work with Scott and Tam at HACFL, the team at AP Communities, and the Design Professionals at Corwil Architects and Arbab Engineering. Looking forward to the next one!