As travelers exit Interstate 35 and approach the southeastern edge of Ames, they are welcomed by a rhythmic procession of illuminated columns—sculptural markers that transform the experience of arrival into something poetic and memorable. Known as the Technology Columns, this installation was developed during my time at RDG Dahlquist Art Studio in response to the City of Ames’ vision for a symbolic and dynamic gateway. The city sought to frame its entrance with a gesture that reflected both its identity and its momentum—rooted in innovation, education, and a growing technological presence.

Our team approached the project through a lens of narrative placemaking. We designed a series of tall, slender stainless steel and acrylic columns equipped with internal LED lighting, arranged in symmetrical lines along the US Highway 30 exit ramp to Southeast 16th and Dayton. These illuminated beacons—some rising over 30 feet high—recall the form of candles in a window, a timeless symbol of welcome and warmth. This gesture became the conceptual heart of the project’s subtitle, Light and Stone, representing not just physical materials, but the deeper symbolism of illumination as a metaphor for enlightenment and knowledge sharing.

More than a work of public art, the Technology Columns function as a civic playscape—one designed not for climbing or touch, but for imagination and identity. They mark a threshold into a city powered by ideas and aspiration. The clean geometries and kinetic lighting effects evoke the precision of technology, while the placement and scale suggest ritual, rhythm, and continuity. They tell the story of a place not defined solely by location, but by values: innovation, inclusion, and forward thinking.

What began as a pilot project supported by the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Community Enhancement Grant quickly gained momentum, with support from the City of Ames, the South Ames Business Association, and private donors. It stands today not just as an entry marker, but as a civic symbol—an intersection of infrastructure and imagination. It was an honor to contribute to this vision with RDG, and to help shape a work that continues to illuminate the spirit of Ames for all who pass through.