Cordley Hall at Oregon State University

Cordley Hall at Oregon State University presented one of the most technically demanding paver installations in the Pacific Northwest. Commissioned under Oregon's One Percent for the Arts in Public Building Programs, visual artist Ann Hamilton proposed embedding the DNA sequence of the last universal common ancestor (LUCA) — a code contained in the genetic material of all living things — directly into the courtyard pavement.

The vision required nearly 30,000 individual pavers, each custom-stamped with a single letter using a metal shoe, then laid in precise sequence by color, direction, and marked letter. No existing product on the market could fulfill this requirement. The LUCA DNA sequence uses only 5 of 26 letters, meaning standard alphabet pavers would produce unacceptable waste. Production had to be efficient and automated to meet project deadlines.

The site added another layer of complexity. Cordley Hall was originally built as two separate halves, and the brick on the east and west sides of the courtyard were two noticeably different shades. Any red paver color needed to bridge both. Additionally, the artist specified a very light version of the Trade Gothic typeface — a weight that didn't exist commercially.

The team chose segmental concrete pavers as the medium, with each paver custom-stamped to display a single part of the DNA code. Western Interlock partnered with Ann Hamilton's studio to develop a completely custom typeface for the project. Initial proof-of-concept testing confirmed that stamped drycast pavers were feasible, but the first ultra-lightweight font tested ran poorly in production. After multiple rounds of refinement, the team arrived at a font weight that produced consistently and looked beautiful in the finished product.

After several trial runs and on-site color tests, Western Interlock created a custom red that successfully bridged the two different brick tones on the building's east and west facades.

Sequoia Stonescapes was selected as the installer for this one-of-a-kind project. The team meticulously laid each of the nearly 30,000 pavers across the 6,000-square-foot courtyard, following precise placement maps that dictated each paver's color, orientation, and letter. Every paver had to be placed in the exact correct position to maintain the integrity of the DNA sequence and the artist's visual design.

The finished courtyard is a stunning fusion of art and science — long strings of snaking letters in charcoal, pewter, and custom red spell out text by biologist William Emerson Ritter, reinterpreted by Ann Hamilton to reflect the beauty and interconnectedness of life. Viewed from above, the courtyard reads as a living document, with the genetic code that connects all organisms embedded permanently in the ground where students of the College of Science and College of Agricultural Science walk every day.

The project stands as a showcase of what's possible when precision craftsmanship meets ambitious creative vision — and it's the kind of installation that only a team with Sequoia's attention to detail could execute.