How long do you think it took to build the Koan Statue? Five years? Ten? This isn’t just any statue. The Koan Statue is a testament to imagination and collaboration, a towering 40-foot sculpture nestled in the heart of Georgia Tech’s campus. It was the brainchild of John Portman, a visionary architect and Georgia Tech alumnus. Portman envisioned a grand structure, a piece of art that would make people think and question. And he wanted it made of a unique material: MTI SculptureStone®. He brought this challenge to MTI’s president, Russell Adams, who enthusiastically took on the task. What followed was an amazing journey of design and engineering. Portman’s architectural vision merged with the expertise of Georgia Tech aerospace analysts and engineers, all powered by the might of Georgia Tech’s supercomputer. Even a company specializing in million-dollar power boats, known for their skill with carbon fiber, joined the project. They were looking for a challenge, and they found it in the Koan Statue. Five years later, the Koan Statue stands tall, its exterior gleaming with MTI SculptureStone®, a testament to the collaborative spirit and innovative thinking that defines Georgia Tech.
Omenala Griot Afrocentric Teaching Museum
“What if museums could talk?” That’s a question I often ask myself. Today, standing before the Omenala Griot Afrocentric Teaching