Through a design team effort a one-mile, six-lane overpass for the SR 51 was created. The resulting design features six-24 foot tall, reptile-shaped support columns and 34 relief panels of human, abstract, and animal images. The panels, some as tall as 13 feet, extend up to133 feet along the overpass retaining walls. Imagery was developed from the designs on prehistoric Native American artifacts found at the site during the excavation for the freeway.



When the plans for SR 51 went into effect, the residents of Phoenix were incredibly excited. Prior to this highway, there was no road that directly connected the northern end of the city to the Southern. The need to bring the city together geographically also opened the door to a spiritual connection.

During the excavation for the freeway, Native American artifacts were found within the earth of the site. These items provided inspiration to artist Marilyn Zwak as she worked out the design plan for the project. Working with engineer consultant Jerry Cannon, Zwak was able to create a space where the past and the present meet. The resulting design employs petroglyph-like figures surfaced with adobe, a traditional Southwestern building material made from dirt, clay, water, and hay. Residents were invited to imprint their own designs and objects in the freshly laid adobe. The finished work combines a variety of inlaid elements such as handprints, carved initials, keys, remnants of clothing, photographs, and coins. By the completion of the project, the artist and her two assistants labored more than 4,000 hours and applied 150 tons of adobe to the overpass towers and columns.

Borrowing ideas from the past to bring into the future, Our Shared Environment reminds residents in the City of Phoenix that collaboratively we can make our mark in history.

About the Design Team
Marilyn Zwak came to art from her experience as a nurse. Zwak feels that art can change people’s attitudes and therefore create a change in the overall environment, inspiring her to create such collaborative and rich work. She has taken part in many public art pieces and currently lives in Arizona.

California based Jerry Cannon has worked as Design Engineer Consultant on several public art projects. His work with Cannon and Associates in the field of structural engineering is highly regarded for its excellence.