Microclimate
Spanning from east to west, the Arch of Time creates a large outdoor room in Mason Park that is shaded throughout the day. Opening up to the north and narrowing to the south, the artwork also helps to channel the breezes that flow within the shade. The effect is a public space that is significantly cooler than the surrounding park. The artwork will provide a place of refuge in a city experiencing the ever-increasing heat island effects of a warming climate.

Energy
With over 60,000 solar photovoltaic cells seamlessly integrated into its south-facing exterior, Arch of Time will generate an impressive 400,000 kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually—enough to power all of Mason Park (equivalent to the electricity consumption of 40 Texas homes). Over its lifetime, The Arch will produce more than 12 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity—offsetting 8,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide and far exceeding its own environmental impact. This pioneering project marks the world’s first energy-generating artwork that contributes net-positive power to the grid, reinforcing Houston’s leadership in the global energy transition.

Sundial
Acting as a living sundial, The Arch is a dynamic timekeeper that bridges earth and sky. Its precisely engineered geometry captures and casts sunlight across the ground in a poetic dance of shadows and light—an ever-changing performance guided by the Earth’s rotation and Houston’s unique coordinates. Through this celestial choreography, the sculpture transforms each day into an immersive experience of time, space, and art.

STEAM Education
The Arch of Time will engage people of all ages with an inspiring example of distributed solar energy systems designed to enhance the beauty and function of urban public spaces. As the sun moves across the sky throughout the day, each facet of the solar cladding will generate electricity at different efficiencies. Open source data will allow students to study the effect of solar incidence angle and to experience the operations of solar installations across various weather conditions. As clouds pass by overhead, seeing the brightness of the beam correlate directly with the energy production of the artwork is a simple demonstration of how solar energy works in concert with energy storage systems.

Resilience Hub
The artwork will also serve as a center for reliable power during emergencies. As a resilience hub, the Arch of Time will provide a place for nearby residents to access electricity during blackouts associated with more frequent and severe storm events and a refuge where people can stay cool as the heat island effects in Houston become more severe. 

During normal operations, the artwork will more than offset the historic electricity demand of the park itself, which in 2024 consumed 382,800 kWh of electricity, saving tens of thousands of dollars each year and making Mason Park a net-zero amenity for the people of Houston.