James Turrell: Hard Scrabble Sky

The skyspace is an elliptical structure 26 feet high and 43 feet in diameter, supported by columns and lined with arc-shaped benches. An oculus in the roof is calculated to frame the sky and shifting light levels. During warm weather, curtains of water will fall continuously between alternating pairs of the support columns to soften the sound and sight of traffic and pedestrian activity. Rather than shutting out the urban environment, the skyspace focuses on its overlooked natural aspects. Turrell's skyspaces can be seen in public institutions around the world, but none are as directly accessible from public streets as the UIC Skyspace.