Foundation

The new Federal Campus in Oklahoma City is located adjacent to the bombing site of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, which is now a memorial site. The water sculpture juxtaposes the delicate sound of rippling water with approximately 1000 tons of roughly textured Wichita Mountain granite boulders and Pecan Valley river rock, quarried in Oklahoma. This rough stone material, in contrast with the smooth rectilinear glass surfaces of the building, is also used in the axial wall which runs from the exterior though the interior of the building, highlighting the atrium space and binding art and architecture to create a cohesive and interactive space. Within the elliptical courtyard, the water sculpture creates a sense of foundation for the building, a metaphor for the geology of Oklahoma, and exemplifies the solid, enduring spirit of the people.