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Design Review Board approves student sculpture by South Lakes STEAM team for Reston lake
Summary
The Reston Design Review Board approved a student-designed public sculpture by the South Lakes High School STEAM team for placement on the lake, voting 5-0 and asking the students to submit final color and spacing details to staff.
The Reston Design Review Board on March 18 approved a student-designed public sculpture by the South Lakes High School STEAM team for installation on the lake, voting 5-0.
Board members said the project’s prefabricated galvanized-steel frame and lightweight aluminum "discs" offered a durable, kinetic public-art element that would be easy to assemble and—if needed—relocate. The students described a structure built with a key-clamp pipe system, cross members to prevent racking, aircraft-tension tie-downs, and 3/16-inch Dyneema rope to hold hanging elements.
The STEAM students said they chose aluminum discs—lighter than stainless steel—for a community-decorated element. Students plan to work with children at Langston Hughes and Terrace elementary schools to apply artwork to the discs; each disc will be attached with a small swivel so elements can rotate and "glint" in sunlight. The team said the planned rope has an approximate tensile strength of about 1,000 pounds and that the structure’s galvanized finish is intended for long-term outdoor exposure. Early cost estimates cited by team members ranged from roughly $6,000 to $8,000 depending on whether the pipe frames are powder-coated and on added connector hardware.
Board members asked about durability, transport and assembly. Students and mentors said the chosen key-clamp system (presented as a simplified building/pipe-clamp assembly) is faster to erect than timber framing, ships in smaller elements, and would make on-site assembly easier. Presenters also said that prior problems with swivels on an earlier sculpture (a prior project described as "Cerebral") taught lessons about correct swivel orientation; the students said they plan to use swivels as intended (vertical tensile loading) and to perform wind testing before installation.
The board asked students to provide final documentation to staff showing the final color decision, spacing of the medallions/discs, and final tie-down/attachment details for the record. Chairman Michael Wood moved to approve the application as submitted with the request that students send the final design and spacing information to staff; the motion was seconded and passed 5-0.
Board members consistently praised the students’ community-involvement approach and said they valued the kinetic and visual elements for viewers on the lake, trails and nearby roads. Several board members cautioned that powder coating adds lead time (presenters cited about a one-month lead time from the manufacturer) and additional cost, and suggested lower-cost alternatives—vinyl or high-durability spray coatings—if the students needed to reduce the budget.
The board approval was conditioned only on providing final design documentation to staff; no further formal board review was required unless the students materially change the approved design.
