Quarra Stone Company announces the completion of A Parallel Nature, a monumental stone art installation by artist Maya Lin. Integrated into the base of JPMorgan Chase’s new global headquarters at 270 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, the building was designed by Foster + Partners.
-- Quarra Stone Company announces the completion of A Parallel Nature, a monumental stone art installation by artist Maya Lin. Integrated into the base of JPMorgan Chase’s new global headquarters at 270 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, the building was designed by Foster + Partners.
Commissioned by JPMorgan Chase, Quarra Stone Company was responsible for the engineering, fabrication, and installation of the custom granite panels and supporting structure that form the dual stone walls at the tower’s entrance along Madison Avenue. Comprising 239 unique granite elements, the installation ranges from 7 to 28 inches in thickness, with individual stones weighing up to 12,000 pounds. Monumental in scale, A Parallel Nature functions not as a traditional facade but as an architectural artwork in direct dialogue with the building and the public environment.
Inspired by exposed Manhattan bedrock and the schist formations found throughout Central Park, the installation translates geological strata into a tactile, sculptural composition that anchors the tower to its site. Each granite element was quarried in Vermont, CNC-machined, and hand-finished to achieve the organic textures central to the artwork. The stones are supported by a custom-engineered stainless-steel ladder-frame system, designed to accommodate the project’s complex geometry and structural demands.
Quarra Stone provided full design-assist services for the installation, including advanced digital modeling, material sourcing, engineering, fabrication coordination, and installation support. Working closely with Maya Lin’s studio, the project’s structural engineers, and the broader design and construction team, Quarra translated Maya’s vision into a fully coordinated 3D model. This comprehensive workflow allowed each non-uniform stone panel to meet the project’s stringent structural, fabrication, and performance requirements.
Extensive full-scale mockups, dry-lays, and high-precision laser scanning were employed to ensure dimensional accuracy, alignment across adjacent elements, and consistent open joints throughout the installation. Through rigorous preconstruction coordination, quality control, and digital fabrication workflows, all 239 granite elements were installed on an accelerated schedule—delivering a distinctive and enduring work of large-scale public art at the base of one of New York City’s most significant new architectural projects.
A Parallel Nature was featured in The New York Times, which highlighted the project’s geological inspiration, environmental sensibility, and integration into the urban fabric of Midtown Manhattan. The coverage situates the installation within Maya Lin’s broader body of work, emphasizing its role as a contemplative, nature-driven counterpoint to the surrounding city.
About Quarra Stone
Quarra Stone Company is a leading architectural and artistic stone fabrication service provider for institutions, public art, restoration, and high-end residential projects. Known for their rare blend of digital innovation and traditional craftsmanship, Quarra partners with visionary clients to bring extraordinary stonework to life.
To start your next stone project or learn more, visit www.quarrastone.com or contact [email protected].
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Contact Info:
Name: Lauren Pomaranski
Email: Send Email
Organization: Quarra Stone Company
Website: https://quarrastone.com
Release ID: 89201280
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