More than two decades ago, Brandt, the largest mechanical, electrical and plumbing company in the state of Texas, was involved in the construction of Dallas-based Nasher Sculpture Center. The relationship between the Brandt and Nasher has continued since then, and this September, Brandt took on a ductwork project as part of the "Groundswell: Women of Land Art" exhibit, which showcases the work of a dozen female artists.

“The project was a recreation of an art installation in Alaska that represented the oil pipelines and their ecological impact on the environment,” says Chad Lyles, a Union Sheet Metal Worker out of Local 68. Lyles, along with his Superintendent Scott Keefer, and fellow Journeyman Casey Jones, were the three men responsible for the ductwork installation. 

The project took a total of four days to complete. Three of those days were spent working on the inside portion and a section near the front entrance, while an additional day was spent working on the exterior portion. 

The 12-inch pipes used for the installation run roughly 150 feet in length. Snap lock ductwork, which is not typically used by Brandt, was used here. It is a light gauge metal with a bright sheen, which adds to the art of this ductwork, Lyles notes. Anchors were hidden behind the ductwork to keep it suspended to the wall and a small rail holds the bottom portion of the ductwork at the base of the stairs. 

While the installation is a work-of-art, it did not come to life without some issues. 

“There was concern that it would not be stable enough on the freestanding sections,” Lyles says. “Like in the original art, we had to make supports that could hold the weight and keep the desired angles. These were made temporary by us with wood and the sculpture center had someone else create metal and more solid supports that were later installed. The elbows are adjustable gore elbows and have 4 sections that can independently spin for desired angles, but it creates difficulty in making them have their ductwork straight, level, and plumb. Unfortunately there was little we could do except to be careful to not have them over adjusted.”

Concerns aside, Lyles says the experience of constructing this ductwork installation was a positive one. 

“I enjoyed the experience as it is something I have never done before,” he says. “I can say the quality of our work is truly a work of art.”