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Credits
Drexel University
Drexel University is a comprehensive global research university committed to use-inspired research with real-world applications. Drexel has committed to being the nation’s most civically engaged university, with community partnerships integrated into every aspect of service and academics.
Wexford Science & Technology, a BioMed Realty company, is a real estate investment and development company that meets the growing and specialized facilities needs of for-profit and not-for-profit institutions, including universities, university-related research parks and healthcare systems. Wexford Science & Technology’s objective is to become a long-term partner, support strategic organizational growth in significant, value-added ways while strengthening the communities in which they work.
The Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority pioneered the Percent for Art Program in March 1959, becoming the first city in the United States to create a program requiring developers to commission art as part of the development process. The Redevelopment Authority’s Percent for Art Program obligates developers who are building on land acquired and assembled by the Authority to dedicate at least one percent of the total building construction costs toward the commissioning of original, site-specific works of art. Since the inception of the Program, nearly 400 works of public art have been installed in all areas of Philadelphia. Works of public art can be found in such diverse developments as high-rise commercial and residential towers, housing for families and the elderly, shopping plazas, parks, hotels, universities, schools and libraries.
Art Along the Avenue of Technology (AAAT) is a public art residency program under the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority that specifically explores the intersection of art, science and technology. AAAT is a collaboration between the Science Center, Wexford Science & Technology and the Philadelphia’s Redevelopment Authority’s Percent for Art Program. PolakVanBekkum was selected by the Science Center and the PRA from a group of approximately 40 applicants after a rigorous review process.
The University City Science Center & STEAM Initiatives
The Science Center is a dynamic hub for technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the Greater Philadelphia region. It has provided lab space, office space, business incubation and support services for entrepreneurs, startups, and growing and established companies for 50+ years. The Science Center was the first, and remains the largest, urban research park in the United States.
The Science Center’s STEAM Initiatives department adds Art to the STEM subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math turns STEM into STEAM… and empowers students to channel their creativity as they engage with STEAM disciplines.
Barbara Hennequin is an Amsterdam-based graphic designer, working in both the commercial and cultural fields. Her work consists of the design of visual identities, websites, books, magazines, brochures, and other publications. In addition to her practice she give lectures, teaches and gives workshops on a regular basis.
Her academic background in communication and language has a big influence on the way she thinks about and approaches graphic design. Her work is characterized by clear and structured typographic design solutions with distinct graphic shapes.
Together with PolakVanBekkum and Sean McGinnis she created the website for the 250 Miles Crossing Philadelphia NavDoc. The animated background of the site immediately pulls you into the world of Google Earth. The round icons that represent the GE-recordings form an abstract visual grid of the map of Philadelphia. At the same time they give a rough indication of the location of the recording and are the visual portal to the site.
Sean McGinnis is a software developer, hardware hacker and balloon/kite mapper from just outside of Philadelphia. Sean together with Edward Farrel is developing software for the project.
Adesola Onitiri. During our working period at the Department of Making and Doing, Adesola was our intern there. By the time we figured out that we were going to make a podcast as part of our project, we immediately knew who to ask as ‘the voice’: Sola. Although she was not directly involved in our project we were very glad she said yes. The podcast is part of the Beagle and accompanies the wearer on his or her walk for the ‘250 Miles’ project.
Olivia Guerrasio
Drexel Co-op at the University City Science Center, STEAM Initiatives department. Majors: International Business and Marketing. Minors: Spanish and Dance
This depiction of the stages of the “Evolving J” goes from a regular letter J to a completely morphed J., is an Amsterdam-based graphic designer and typographer. He also creates evolving letters and whole alphabets, like our project logo.
He created the Evolving J and we asked him to design the 250 Miles animated logo based upon that. The letter has such a strong association with street patterns – the grid of the “250 Miles crossing Philadelphia” project.
Daniel works together with a number of different designers, programmers and artists to create typefaces, books and websites. In some of his work he is searching for unexplored possibilities of new or existing techniques based on mathematical natural or mechanical principles. This result is work that balances between machine and hand made work.
Via Air is a small flight shool located at the Northeast Philadelphia Airport. They generously granted us permission to make audio and gps recordings during one of their flights.