Loma Linda University Medical Hospital (Double Helix)

In September 2017 the JAF Foundation donated the “Double Helix”, a 20-foot sculpture designed by the Architect and Artist Paffard Keating-Clay to the Loma Linda University Health. The Double Helix holds special meaning for the faculty, the students and staff at Loma Linda University Health as DNA controls all the workings of the body and allows the individuality among people.

Loma Linda University Health is an academic medical center operating six hospitals, a physician practice corporation, remote clinics in the western United States, and affiliate organizations around the world. These medical services interact with the eight schools that make up our healthcare focused university. This mutual pursuit of excellence leads to outstanding care for our patients and great learning opportunities for our students.

The five-ton sculpture’s 130 pieces are held together by 1’020 non-visible screws and has been manufactured by Polenz Metall Design Manufaktur in Germany. Besides exemplifying the strand of DNA the spiral elegance also represents the beauty and significance of art and science and honors the first correct description of the double-helix model of DNA structure by Francis Crick and James Watson in 1953.

Please see the Video by Walter Kober for more information about the creation and construction of the sculpture.
https://vimeo.com/236449926 (10:21min) or https://vimeo.com/233380829 (3:51min)