Mattamy Homes Nears Completion of World’s Tallest Heart Sculpture
Published on September 09, 2024
Ceremonial beam signing held Sept. 9 to commemorate delivery of Heart in the Park final piece
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Mattamy Homes, the largest privately owned homebuilder in North America, is one step closer to completing Heart in the Park, the world’s tallest heart sculpture.
On Sept. 9, Mattamy Homes executives, internationally acclaimed artist JEFRË and city officials gathered to sign one of the heart’s beams, a capsule moment to celebrate the delivery of the last piece of the sculpture.
"We couldn't be more proud of this iconic art piece and the incredible people we've had the privilege to work alongside to bring it to life,” said Dan Grosswald, Mattamy’s Southeast Florida Division President. “Heart in the Park is more than just a visual statement; it’s a hallmark of Tradition’s commitment to culture and creativity—fostering a sense of pride and belonging for residents.”
Slated for completion in early 2025, the 73-foot Heart in the Park sculpture will stand as a defining art piece and community area within the park, which is situated at Village Parkway and Discovery Way.
“Heart in the Park” is set to become a cherished landmark in Port St. Lucie. This artwork will bring our community closer, reflecting a message of love and inclusivity,” said Port St. Lucie Mayor Shannon Martin. “Port St. Lucie is a city for all ages and the Heart of the Treasure Coast, and now we can proudly say that it’s a city with a heart for all.”
Designed by internationally acclaimed artist JEFRË, the sculpture’s gentle twist will rise above a circular pedestal measuring 30 feet in diameter, recalling St. Louis’s iconic Gateway Arch. The sculpture’s surface will be illuminated nightly.
“Heart in the Park represents the shared spirit and identity of community,” said JEFRË, whose works include “Reflection” in Philadelphia and “Heaven’s Gate” in Manila. “I hope it inspires connection and serves as a lasting symbol of our collective imagination and strength.”
The sculpture will sit atop a raised plaza designed to align with the Shoppes at the Heart project. In addition to vehicular parking, bicycle parking, along with a T.I.M. stop for Tradition’s autonomous shuttle system is being provided, along with public seating/gathering areas to allow the site to be used for public gatherings.
Heart in the Park will be adjacent to the 71,000-square-foot Shoppes at the Heart commercial center, which is currently under construction. The center will be anchored by Aldi and feature a dynamic tenant roster, including Kyle G’s Amore Chop House, Spanish restaurant Port Tradition, Le Bistro de Paris, Carmela Coffee, Swift Mediterranean Grill, Ace of Carts, Tomalty Dental, Cooper Orthodontist, The Joint Chiropractic, and more.
Heart in the Park is being built along Tradition Trail, commonly known as the T-Trail, as one of a series of planned experiences. Other planned experiences include Stars and Stripes Park, nature trails and Tradition Regional Park.
The sculpture is fully funded by Mattamy Homes as part of the public art program.
Visit traditionfl.com or www.mattamyhomes.com for more information.
About Mattamy Homes
Mattamy Homes is the largest privately owned homebuilder in North America, with 40-plus years of history across the United States and Canada. Every year, Mattamy helps more than 8,000 families realize their dream of homeownership. In the United States, the company is represented in 11 markets — Dallas, Charlotte, Raleigh, Phoenix, Tucson, Jacksonville, Orlando (where its U.S. head office is located), Tampa, Sarasota, Naples and Southeast Florida. In Canada, Mattamy Homes' communities stretch across the Greater Toronto Area as well as Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton. Visit www.mattamyhomes.com for more information.
About JEFRË
JEFRË (born Jefre Figueras Manuel) is a Filipino-American artist currently residing in Central Florida. He has created numerous site-specific artworks in major cities around the world including "Reflection" (2010) in Philadelphia’s Unity Plaza, "The Beacon" and "Code Wall" (2014) in Orlando and "Heaven’s Gate" (2019) in Manila. The artist’s first solo museum exhibition “Points of Connection” debuted in October 2020 at Orlando Museum of Art. JEFRË is currently working on a 24- story high sculpture titled "The Victor." Located at a bridge connecting the cities of Pasig and Quezon in the Philippines, the sculpture will be one of the world’s tallest artworks. JEFRË will also be the featured artist at Virgin Fest, the inaugural music festival from Richard Branson, with over 60 of his sculptures installed on the festival grounds. The artist’s first solo museum exhibition “Points of Connection” debuted in October 2020 at Orlando Museum of Art. www.jefre.org