Allison Mosaics Barrow Alaska Hospital

Barrow, AK

ABOUT THIS PROJECT

A Monumental Glass Mosaic Installation in America’s Northernmost Hospital

At Allison Eden Studios, we often say our handcrafted mosaics can be found everywhere—from the northernmost city in America, Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska, to the southernmost point in Key West, Florida. This remarkable project proves we mean it literally.

When Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital in Utqiaġvik commissioned a monumental stained glass mosaic installation, the project quickly became one of the most memorable adventures in the studio’s history. During installation, the original installer, Bob Eder, suffered an unfortunate encounter with a polar-region bear, requiring Allison Eden to travel to the Arctic to help ensure the project was completed successfully. (Fortunately, the installation was ultimately completed with the exceptional craftsmanship of Floyd Godwin and the Western Tile team, whose expertise brought the mural to life beautifully.)

The result is a breathtaking architectural mosaic that transforms the hospital with sweeping ribbons of luminous stained glass flowing like the northern lights across the Arctic sky. Thousands of individually hand-cut glass pieces create movement, warmth, and optimism—bringing vibrant color into one of the world’s most remote healthcare environments.

Designed specifically to promote a calming, uplifting atmosphere, the mural demonstrates the profound impact handcrafted architectural art can have within hospitals, wellness centers, healing environments, and public spaces. The flowing composition invites patients, visitors, and healthcare professionals to pause, reflect, and experience a moment of beauty in an unexpected place.

Each section was meticulously handcrafted at Allison Eden Studios in Brooklyn before being engineered into precision interlocking panels for installation thousands of miles away above the Arctic Circle. From studio fabrication to one of the most challenging installation environments imaginable, this project represents the dedication, craftsmanship, and perseverance required to bring extraordinary public art to every corner of the country.

Whether installed in a luxury hospitality project, healthcare facility, wellness retreat, or civic building, Allison Eden Studios creates one-of-a-kind stained glass mosaics that transform architecture into unforgettable destinations.