The project began with research into the origins of the alphabet to find progressions from the first known sources to our present-day versions.

I then created router templates for each letter-progression, and routed the letter forms into the exposed wood floors throughout the Open Book building.

The random locations, in open spaces as well as corners, allow visitors and regular residents to find the progressions as they move through the Open Book building.

Below are images from my proposal for the project. I had originally intended to fabricate inlays for the letters out of wood and bronze. click images for larger views.

I later abandoned the wood and cast metal inlays for the richer metaphorical possibilites of castable clear resin. In combining the resin with varying amounts of concrete material, I was able to better convey the sense of progression and conceptual "hardening" of the characters into our present day alphabet.