Project Two: Kendall Square Association

One of our most widely recognized projects, frequently posted on Pinterest boards, Instagram, and web sites around the world, the KSQ sculpture, installed in January of 2016, has become an iconic urban landmark for the Kendall Square neighborhood of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and home to MIT.

Working with Selbert Perkins Design, Boston Properties, and the Kendall Square Association, Bluebird Graphic Solutions fabricated and installed the 9-foot tall letters to help define the true center of this very special community commonly regarded as “The most innovative square mile on the planet.”

The incredible thing about the bright orange form is how it commands the space and draws people in. On any given day, local startups can be seen posing for photos to commemorate their launch, and on Thursdays, June through October, the letters quietly serve as the backdrop for the local farmers’ market. Indeed, over the past few years, the sign has taken on a life of its own and is regularly featured in social media, print, and local news stories highlighting this dynamic hub of technological innovation.

The super-sized letters were modeled in 3D and unfolded to ensure a perfect fit with the granite curbing (which slopes in two directions and meets at an awkward angle) It was fabricated using aluminum plate with a steel armature.

Due to being located over a subway tunnel, minimal space was allowed for mounting which had to be accomplished within a narrow void beneath the pavers.