Brightwater Plaza

Articulating the Water Cycle

Architectural sculpture of a water pipe located in a plaza in King County, Washington. — Architectural sculpture of a water pipe in a King County, Washington plaza.

Jann Rosen-Queralt was part of a team of artists and designers who produced an art master plan for the King County, Washington Brightwater Treatment System in 2003.

The team was dedicated to using art to expose both the natural water cycle as well as human intervention through multiple, active, and integrated experiences.

Ms. Rosen-Queralt is an installation artist who holds an MFA degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art. She is fascinated with the balance and tension between the realms of nature and culture. She has created works for public spaces in Quebec, Texas, and Virginia. Her mission for this project is to use sculptural elements in a public art context to articulate the flow of water into and out of the treatment system and to educate visitors about the treatment process.

Modeling and Pre-visualization

Understanding the complex spatial relationships among elements, including effluent pipes, influent pipes, wells, walks, and breathing craters, is especially well-suited to precision 3D modeling. The IRC is collaborating with Jann Rosen-Queralt to develop a design for the Brightwater Plaza using solid modeling software.

The drawings and renderings created through this design process were eventually used by architects and engineers to produce working drawings, which led to the construction of the plaza in King County, Washington.