NEW SCULPTURE BY LOCAL ARTIST ROBERT SPENCER DAVIDSON UNVEILED AT WHOLE FOODS MARKET RETAIL CENTER IN DOWNTOWN SUMMERLIN®
Howard Hughes Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HHH), developer of the Summerlin® master planned community, today unveiled a centerpiece sculpture by Southern Nevada artist Robert Spencer Davidson at the new Whole Foods Market retail center at Downtown Summerlin®, the 400-acre walkable urban core in the heart of the community.
Standing over 33 feet tall, Davidson’s sculpture, Sun Kissed, is set to be a striking focal point of the new 7.4-acre Downtown Summerlin retail corner at Sahara Blvd. and Town Center Drive, anchored by Whole Foods Market. Rising upwards toward the sky and through the shade canopy, the artwork is crafted from a durable blend of metabolized acrylic urethane composite material, steel, and concrete, designed to withstand Southern Nevada’s extreme temperatures.
Davidson, a Southern Nevada resident since the early 1960s and a longtime Calico Basin resident for over 25 years, was selected through a Request for Proposal process from a group of local artists. His design for the public space sculpture was chosen for its striking form that will become an iconic symbol of the area. According to Davidson, the sculpture’s orange-hued metallic coating will make it pop and appear to dance when the sun rises in the East.
“Summerlin’s constant and ongoing evolution speaks to the idea of progress and the promise of a bright future,” said Davidson. “My design was inspired by my love of living in Southern Nevada, my respect for the progressive and responsible way in which Summerlin has been developed, as well as my admiration for Howard Hughes—the man and visionary. As a pilot myself, I have long admired Hughes’ passion for aviation and his forward-thinking vision when he acquired the land where Summerlin now sits. To that end, Sun Kissed is symbolic of that same spirit of optimism, of always looking at the bright side.”
“We are thrilled to welcome the work of Robert Spencer Davidson to Summerlin’s ever-expanding portfolio of public art,” said Danielle Bisterfeldt, SVP, Marketing & Consumer Experience, Summerlin. “As we continue to develop Summerlin, we remain committed to showcasing local talent and highlighting the power of public art as a catalyst for community engagement. This striking art piece reflects Downtown Summerlin’s new chapter of dynamic growth, with additional office, retail, and multifamily options set to define an enhanced sense of place and community identity.”
Sun Kissed helps establish the new Whole Foods Market retail center as a welcoming destination for the thousands of residents at Tanager, Echo, Constellation in Downtown Summerlin, as well as residents of other Summerlin neighborhoods connected via the trail system. The Whole Foods Market retail center is constructed to achieve LEED Silver certification and will also feature electric vehicle charging stations.
Construction on the new Downtown Summerlin retail destination began in September 2023. Whole Foods Market and Starbucks are anticipated to open first with additional openings to be phased throughout the year.
About Robert Spencer Davidson
Robert Spencer Davidson is a sculptor and artisan, best known in Southern Nevada for his work near Nellis Air Force Base titled Absolute Ceiling, named for the highest altitude at which an aircraft can sustain level flight. Working in all mediums including stone, plaster, concrete, wood, all metals, and glass, Davidson designed and sculpted a stone tactile panel for the Garside Pool facility in Las Vegas that allowed those who are visually impaired to easily touch and feel the textures and carvings to form their own mental picture. Beginning his professional career in construction, Davidson was drawn to the artistic side of the business. Eventually, his work led him to design and sculpt such immediately recognizable pieces as Lady Liberty at New York New York, Luxor’s Great Sphinx, and Florida’s Universal Studios’ cartoon character for Mt. Rushmore-themed ride, Rip Saw Rapids.
About Summerlin®
A Howard Hughes community, Summerlin began to take shape in 1990 and has ranked in the country’s top 10 best-selling master planned communities for nearly two decades. Located along the western rim of the Las Vegas valley, Summerlin encompasses 22,500 acres with approximately 4,000 gross acres remaining to accommodate future growth, including infrastructure, open space, and common areas, all within the master plan. The community is currently home to nearly 127,000 residents who enjoy an unparalleled list of amenities. These include more than 300 neighborhood and village parks, more than 200 completed miles of trails, 26 public and private schools, 14 houses of worship, ten golf courses, shopping centers, medical and cultural facilities, business parks and dozens of actively selling floor plans. Homes are available in a variety of styles—from single-family homes to townhomes—with offerings in a wide price range, including custom homesites in The Ridges. Summerlin is recognized as one of the country’s premier locations to raise a family and to operate a business, named MPC of the Year for 2020 by the National Home Builders Association.
About Howard Hughes Holdings Inc.
Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. owns, manages, and develops commercial, residential, and mixed-use real estate throughout the U.S. Its award-winning assets include the country’s preeminent portfolio of master planned communities, as well as operating properties and development opportunities including Downtown Columbia® in Maryland; The Woodlands®, Bridgeland® and The Woodlands Hills® in the Greater Houston, Texas area; Summerlin® in Las Vegas; Ward Village® in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi; and Teravalis™ in the Greater Phoenix, Arizona area. The Howard Hughes portfolio is strategically positioned to meet and accelerate development based on market demand, resulting in one of the strongest real estate platforms in the country. Dedicated to innovative placemaking, the company is recognized for its ongoing commitment to design excellence and to the cultural life of its communities. Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange as HHH. For additional information visit www.howardhughes.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts, including statements accompanied by words such as “will,” “believe,” “expect,” “enables,” “realize,” “plan,” “intend,” “assume,” “transform” and other words of similar expression, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management’s expectations, estimates, assumptions, and projections as of the date of this release and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are set forth as risk factors in Howard Hughes Holdings Inc.’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly and Annual Reports. Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. cautions you not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this release. Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events, information or circumstances that arise after the date of this release.