ARCHITECTURAL
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Installation of North Arch |
Glass panels fixed between Stainless Steel fabricated box sections |
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Project:
McMahon Bridge Stainless Steel Arches Length: 40m x 2
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Project:
NCI Iris Height:
47ft
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Iris
by night - Silver
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Iris
by night - Red
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The National College of Ireland (NCI) commissioned Vivienne Roche, sculptor to design the sculpture for the plaza in front of their new college in the IFSC, Dublin. Steele & Co. have worked with Ms Roche on a number of projects in the past including a sculpture for the Court House in Limerick and a bronze bell for St Patricks Cathedral in Dublin. NC Iris was a collaboration between Vivienne Roche, Steele & Co. Ltd. and Arup, Cork. It was fabricated over a seven-month period and involved at various stages every member of staff in Steele & Co designing, machining, assembling and finishing. The five veins (main supports for the sculpture) proved to be the most challenging element of the sculpture, each following a distinct and Complex Compound Curve. The tubes had to be tapered without losing shape as they rise to the top of the sculpture. The veins are made of Duplex stainless steel of the type used in North Sea pipelines. This is almost twice as strong as the 316L stainless steel in which the remainder of the sculpture is manufactured and has even better corrosion resistance properties. The outer covering of the Iris is made from 22,500 individual rings TiG welded together. They were then connected in a European "1 into 4" chainmail pattern that has been in use since about the 2nd century B.C. Lighting: The complex lighting system, developed by Arup illuminates the Iris at night time and will change colour each month with dramatic effect (see photos above). A spectacular light show will take place every evening at 10PM where the lights will go through the annual lighting sequence in about 15 minutes. Various hues of green, red, blue and silver can be seen and bring the sculpture to life. An excellent multimedia exhibition is on display in the atrtium of the college which shows how the project developed from conception to fabrication with plenty of clips of the design and manufacture techniques of the Iris.
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Unveiling of NC Iris, 4th April 2006 by President Mary McAleese L-R
Tom Condon (Steele & Co), Mr. Martin McAleese, Ms. Vivienne
Roche (NC Iris Artist), Professor Joyce O'Connor (President, NCI),
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NCI Iris Location
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Fabricating combinations of materials to highlight architectural features is an important part of our business.
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Project:
Limerick Civic Offices Sculpture
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Project:
Corten
Steel Sculptures, Ringaskiddy,
Cork |