Challenge: An “underwhelming” first impression for visitors at a 5- star hotel in the Greater Boston area.

Solution: A whimsical, moving kinetic sculpture that towers over guests and vehicles as they enter the building’s main courtyard for pickup, drop off, and hotel social occasions and events.

On September 24, 2015, ModVic and Salmon Studios unveiled a functioning Steampunk Armillary planetary sculpture, which was designed to embody the hotel’s themes of discovery and exploration.

During the course of the team consulted and collaborated with senior astronomer emeritus at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Professor Owen Jay Gingerich, who is also Professor Emeritus of Astronomy and of the History of Science at Harvard University, as well as, Ken Brecher, Professor of Astronomy and Physics at Boston University.

The sculpture was outfitted with a variety of lighting “moods” for night viewing and has become a popular backdrop for wedding photos.

“ModVic’s artwork and design are now at the center of a new business opportunity – a wedding venue, where Celeste became the backdrop and ‘Instagrammable wedding moment’ for the bride and groom,” said Dave Reilly– CEO of Cornerstone Real Estate Advisors. “We actually covered most of the sculpture’s costs within the first year from increased bookings.”