James Carpenter is a New York-based artist who has taught at the University of Stuttgart, Germany, the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania. He is well-known for creating works that use natural and artificial light to transform architectural spaces. Working with glass and steel, he emphasizes and often magnifies the movement of light through space while occasionally using water to animate the environment through sound. Mr. Carpenter has completed numerous projects throughout the United States, including a work for the San Francisco International Airport, as well as projects in Germany, Hong Kong, Australia, and Saudi Arabia. Among his many awards are the American Academy of Arts and Letters Architecture Award in 2008 and the MacArthur Foundation Fellowship in 2004.

James Carpenter’s artwork consists of two fields of luminous objects in Shaw Alley, the pedestrian passage underneath that main structure that will be lined with retail shops and that will lead to a major entrance to the Transit Center. Fifty-four illuminated pairs of cast acrylic resin glass pavers set into the undulating wave pattern of the ceiling will reflect 54 illuminated large glass pavers and a series of illuminated benches set into the concrete floor. These two planes of light, along the ceiling and the ground, will create a sense of movement and directionality that leads pedestrians along the axis of Shaw Alley through the Center. The sculptural elements will respond to the constantly changing characteristics of the natural light and will create a viewing experience that heightens awareness of both the built and natural environments. Carpenter’s integrated sculpture creates a unique and dramatic landscape of light that celebrates passage and movement while creating an entry environment that links the Transbay Transit Center to the city.