At Laumeier Sculpture Park in Southwest St. Louis County, art meets endurance. The park's world-class outdoor collection includes iconic works that brave the elements year after year — and "Alpha," a celebrated piece by Beverly Pepper, is no exception.

Laumeier sculptures are no strangers to Carboline solutions. In 2022, a tailored Carboline system capped off total restoration of "The Way." That success inspired restoration efforts for "Alpha" after more than 45 years on display.

When presented with the opportunity to return to the park, we were more than eager to support another Laumeier icon with a specialized coating system.

A fresh chapter for a storied sculpture

Pepper was a pioneer sculptor famous for using weathering steel plates as the medium for many of her outdoor sculptures, as its high strength makes it ideal for her massive, gravity-defying pieces. Alpha is distinguished by its triangular geometric shape and its bright, construction orange color.

Completed in 1974 and placed on display in 1978, the sculpture became part of the park's permanent collection through a formal donation from Beverly Pepper Studio in 2023. Visible deterioration underscored the need for a new coating system, prompting restoration efforts in fall 2025.

Coating failure, surface rust, and weathering were visible across the structure after decades of exposure to hot, sunny Midwest summers; cold, wet winters; and storms in all seasons. Additionally, soil erosion beneath the sculpture's concrete pad led "Alpha" to gradually sink. Work halted until the subsidence was addressed and a new foundation was poured.

Laumeier's established presence within St. Louis County inspired collaboration among local partners including St. Louis County Parks and Recreation, Barnhart Crane and Rigging, St. Louis-based applicator Coatings Unlimited, and Carboline.

Balancing performance and aesthetics

Sound coating selection influences the length of time before next maintenance, and all parties were interested in keeping "Alpha" looking great decades into the future.

Because Pepper's complex design posed challenges for adequate surface preparation, a surface-tolerant primer was essential to the restoration. Carbomastic^® 15's proven adhesion over marginally prepped steel – and its successful performance on "The Way" – reinforced its selection for "Alpha."

This mainstay epoxy mastic delivers outstanding barrier protection through its lamellar aluminum flake pigmentation, and its excellent wetting properties allow for good penetration of corrosion pits that dramatically slows further degradation.

Carboline recommended an ultra-durable fluoropolymer for the sculpture's topcoat. Carboxane 960 features excellent gloss and color properties that will last many, many years owing to the strong carbon-fluorine bonds that withstand punishing exterior environments.

Altogether, the coating restoration required 50 gallons of the primer and 45 gallons of the topcoat. By October 2025, "Alpha" had regained its striking safety orange gleam.

Continued support for cultural preservation

Now protected by a durable, long-lasting coating system, "Alpha" once again stands as a centerpiece of Laumeier Sculpture Park—engineered to remain in place without major maintenance for decades.

Carboline is honored to support Laumeier Sculpture Park in appreciation for the beauty that this incredible public space provides to our community.