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.