Metronome (public artwork)

About

Metronome is a large public art installation located along the south end of Union Square in New York City. The work was commissioned by the Related Companies, developers of One Union Square South, with the participation of the Public Art Fund and the Municipal Art Society. The $4.2 million provided by the developer makes it one of the largest private commissions of public art.

The artwork was created by Kristin Jones and Andrew Ginzel and consists of several sections, including a round circular void from which puffs of steam were at one point released throughout the day, and a clock made of large orange LED digits. Installation of Metronome began in February 1999, and its dedication took place on October 26, 1999. On September 19, 2020, Metronome became a climate clock showing the time remaining until the Earth's carbon budget is used up as a result of concerns related to global warming above the 1.5°C threshold that was outlined in the Paris Agreement. Devised by artists Andrew Boyd and Gan Golan, the fifteen digits counted down the years, days, hours, minutes, and seconds, in conventional 24-hour format with spaces to the left of each digit.