The Biorenewables Complex features “Floating World,” a sculpture by artist Ralph Helmick. Suspended in the atrium, the work consists of parallel planes of painted steel. It is visible from all parts of the atrium as well as through the windowed east wall. It includes 14 steel scrim panels that weigh around 3,000 pounds.

Beneath the suspended sculpture are seven circular medallions in the terrazzo floor that are also part of the work. These circles start with a planetary array on the east end of the atrium and zero down to a plan view of the atrium on the west end.

Read a narrative of Floating World from the artist (PDF).

Read an article and see photos from Inside Iowa State.

View a movie of the artist and installation (Iowa State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences).

View a 360⁰ photosphere of the art in the Sukup Atrium (on YouVisit)

Read the entry for Floating World in the 2015 Collaboration of Design + Art awards.

View a video and read an article from the Des Moines Register (Sept. 24, 2014)