The latest feature of the LEED Gold-certified Biological and Environmental Integration Program Center (BioEPIC) was put in place last month. In the lobby, a stunning art installation that was made entirely of sustainably sourced reindeer moss (Cladonia rangiferina), showcases the science of plant-soil-microbe interactions. Every element of this mosaic – from underground rock and soil layers to the clouds, tree canopy, and waterway – tells the story of the often-invisible yet critical relationships at the intersection of biology and the environment.
The design was crowd-sourced through a competition open to building occupants, making it a genuine reflection of the community’s creativity and connection to the research in BioEPIC. The submission that inspired the final design was provided by Vlastimil Novak, a research scientist in the Biosciences Area. Owner Amanda Goldberg and her team from Planted Design, Inc., in Emeryville, CA, installed and finished the wall art in one day.
