The concept of “Floating Palms” intends to present three stylized glass and metal palm trees and their root systems. In lieu of showing just one type of palm, a variety will allude to the diversity that nature presents and also the different people of Jacksonville. Many beautiful palms exist in Jacksonville and there are many lining the front of the Times Union building. By introducing representative palm-like sculptures inside the building, the exterior elements are transported to the interior. The palms will all be suspended from the ceiling in the back portion of Jacksonville’s Times Union Building. In this rear section of the building, the viewer has access to a total view of these sculptures.

Overall the viewers have three different perspectives to investigate the palms: 1.up close on the second story balcony examining branches, leaves, and trunks while looking down at the dangling roots; 2.On the first floor the viewer can look up witnessing the palms as if inside the ground by looking up at the palm’s roots and seeing past the trunk to the spread open branches3. From the riverside looking at the whole building the viewer can see the garden of “Floating Palms” as they stroll down the walkway or float by in a boat. The nighttime view from the outside would be the most stunning to see since the building is lit up brightly and these palms would show clear to the other side of the river.

The palms will be composed of green and earth tone colored hot glass and also steel and copper. Each palm will be supported by a solid metal rod mounted to the I-Beams (existing in the ceiling), which would run from the top growth of the palm all the way to the bottom metal bracing plate. This bracing plate would hold the components together and would keep the stress on the glass to a minimum. By using a brace plate the roots would be welded underneath it and would not show any excess metal. This design would make the palms very stable and would not compromise the artistic view. The branches, which are metal, would all be welded together to simulate the crown of the palms. This crown would then be welded to the support line so as to not put any pressure on the blown glass trunk placed beneath it. The last part of main assembly is to screw the base plate to the supporting rod. The final phase is adhering the leaflets to the branches. The leaflets would be inserted into predrilled holes in the branches, and using strong adhesive to secure for maximum stability.