Madrigal, Sanford Biggers

The fabrication of artist Sanford Biggers' sculpture, Madrigal, on the grounds of MIT’s new Edward and Joyce Linde Music Building exemplifies an approach that combines artistic vision and technical craftsmanship.

SITU Fabrication’s work on this ambitious project involved transforming intricate quilt patterns into a monumental outdoor sculpture. Over 18 feet high and rich in color, Madrigal’s complex geometry unfolds six distinct quilt patterns into a myriad of configurations, creating a dazzling visual dynamic.

The process began with initial concepts and sketches by the artist, which evolved into detailed parametric models, allowing us to visualize how the quilt patterns would translate into a three-dimensional form. Our team then collaborated closely with structural engineers to assess materials and to iterate on designs that not only met aesthetic goals but also resolved the structural demands of a large-scale outdoor installation.

The sculpture’s structure features a combination of aluminum and steel tubes and brackets, reminiscent of an erector set, which provides both stability and flexibility. The frame is clad with powder-coated aluminum plates that support CNC-cut acrylic solid surface tiles, in a palette of 13 colors sourced from five different international suppliers. To ensure durability against the elements we conducted various weather tests in selecting UV-resistant colors that would maintain their vibrancy over time.

As the sculpture is made up of thousands of cut pieces that need to fit together precisely, an extensive labeling system was employed to ensure each component was fit in its proper place. The production of Madrigal included creating one-to-one scale mockups to confirm every detail as well as pre-assembling large sections in our shop, helping to minimize on-site installation time to just a few days. The use of solid surface as both tile and cladding along with our approach to integrating aluminum, steel, and stainless steel showcased new uses for materials in our work.