The Orchid (And The I-Beam)

Ben Leone’s practice explores the evolving relationship between the built environment and the natural world, an interest that became central to this project. From the outset, the collaboration revealed a shared intention among the architects and project team to create more than a functional addition to the Kenan-Flagler Business School. The building was conceived as an environment that fosters creativity, reflection, and growth—an ambition Leone sought to echo and reinforce through the sculpture.

Titled The Orchid and The I-Beam, the work responds directly to its site, where location and scale are integral to its impact. Positioned at a dynamic intersection of pathways and viewpoints, the sculpture resists a singular perspective. It is encountered from above along Blythe Road, experienced at eye level from the pedestrian bridge, and engaged at full scale from the adjacent patio and tiered outdoor classroom. This multiplicity of vantage points allows the work to shift in perception, evolving as viewers move through the space.

By extending upward to engage with the bridge and outward into the surrounding landscape, the sculpture operates less as an isolated object and more as a spatial conduit. It encourages awareness of one’s body in relation to the environment, heightening sensitivity to scale, movement, and perspective. The interplay between its industrial structure and organic form reflects a broader dialogue between progress and ecology.

Ultimately, the work seeks to activate the space it inhabits—inviting pause, reflection, and a deeper engagement with the environment, aligning with the project’s broader mission to cultivate curiosity and creative thought.