Overview

Studmarc was commissioned by MASS Design Group to provide tactile studs as part of a project to build a new memorial for Dr Martin Luther King.

The 20-foot tall, 40-foot wide statue recently unveiled in Boston symbolises the hug that Dr Martin Luther King shared with his wife Coretta after winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. The statue, known as ‘The Embrace’, was designed by Brooklyn-based conceptual artist Hank Willis Thomas.

The statue sits on the Boston Common, the city’s major public park downtown. The project required tactile metal studs for two purposes. Firstly, to serve as a warning for the visually impaired and guide them around the memorial. Secondly, the studs would also be used as a deterrent for skateboarders and stop them from riding adjacent to granite benches and jumping up onto them. The studs placed around the base of the statue also needed to complement the aesthetics.

Design Highlights

The abstract bronzed embrace is encircled by the 6000 square-foot Freedom Plaza. Made from granite paving inspired by traditional African American quilting, the area also honours local Civil Rights leaders.

The tactile studs were placed around ‘The Embrace,’ to warn visually impaired people that there is an upcoming hazard. As part of the city’s anti-skate strategy, studs were also installed on the granite path, adjacent to the edge of the benches to preserve the area.

Challenges

One big challenge facing MASS Design Group was finding studs that were durable enough to withstand high traffic use. This was a concern the architect had as he had observed similar projects where studs had snapped off and failed, causing damage to the paving when replacing, and also becoming a health & safety risk in a public area. It was critical that durable, high quality studs were selected to complement the high profile project whilst not detracting from the aesthetic appeal of the surroundings. Studmarc met MASS Design Group’s specific criteria.

Solutions

MASS Design Group selected machined pin tactile studs from Studmarc due to their quality and durability. They wanted to use the studs to act as an aesthetic deterrent for skateboarders while also providing a cane warning strip for the visually impaired at the base of the statue.

After quickly providing product samples to assure MASS Design Group of the strength and quality of the machined pin studs, Studmarc supported them with product recommendations, technical advice and layout options. Once the project requirements were defined, the following products were recommended:

• 25mm Plain Top Stainless Steel Tactile Warning Stud
• 25mm Cross Hatch Stainless Steel Tactile Warning Stud
• 200mm Tactile Warning Strip

These studs were recommended as they were best suited to the application and could be used in a variety of different layout patterns. Studmarc assisted further by providing three different layout options with custom spacings to match the pattern of the paving slabs underneath. .

“Not only that, but we also wanted to make sure that we had a reliable cane warning strip for the visually impaired, so the base of the structure needed to be outfitted with those too. The folks at Studmarc were great to work with, providing us with ample knowledge and support throughout the entire process. We were particularly impressed by the prompt dispatch of product samples, which only reinforced our confidence in the high standard of UK manufacturing. Their suggested layouts were also precise and matched the paving slab pattern perfectly.”

Need help choosing the right products for your next project? Speak to the team today by calling 01686 807 450 or email [email protected].