Cloud Gate

Photo: Mike Warot

Cloud Gate night

Photo: Mike Warot

sculpture winter

Photo: Mitch Howard

rendering

Rendering: PSI

rendering

Rendering: PSI

rendering

Rendering: PSI

structural ring

Photo: PSI

internal structure

Photo: PSI

frames on shop floor

Photo: PSI

craning plate into place

Photo: PSI

omphalus

Photo: PSI

partial assembly

Photo: PSI

Photo: PSI

interior

Photo: PSI

Photo: PSI

Photo: PSI

Photo: PSI

Photo: PSI

Photo: PSI

Photo: PSI

Photo: Tim Schapker

Photo: Mitch Howard

Cloud Gate in fog

Photo: Shihmei Barger

cloud gate  /  Chicago, Illinois  2004

One of the largest steel sculptures in the world, PSI formed, precision-trimmed and polished a series of 168 stainless steel plates which comprise the external shell of the Chicago landmark. They were trucked from Oakland to Chicago, assembled around a massive internal structure, welded, ground, and polished on site. The 110-ton sculpture is suspended from two stainless steel rings and tethered at only one end, allowing the shell to expand and contract with the city's extreme temperatures, which prevents distortions in the mirror-finish surface. Standing 66 feet long, 45 feet wide and 33 feet high, artist Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate reflects the city skyline, and the sky and clouds above.