Britain's tallest, free-standing work of public art will be installed at The University of Nottingham on 23 June 2008.
Rising 60 metres into the Nottingham skyline, Aspire will stand three times taller than the 20-metre Angel of the North and more than eight metres higher than the 51.6-metre Nelson's Column. The new landmark for the City of Nottingham was commissioned by the University as part of the institution's 60th anniversary celebrations of the granting of its Royal Charter.
Aspire will be the centrepiece of The University of Nottingham's Jubilee Campus which is breathing new life into a former industrial site in inner Nottingham.
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The towering sculpture has been funded through the great generosity of a philanthropist who prefers to remain anonymous - but who wished to create an emblem which will make people think about their ambitions and where they aim to go in life.
The generosity of an anonymous benefactor has given The University of Nottingham and the City of Nottingham an iconic and inspirational landmark.
Professor Sir Colin Campbell
Vice-Chancellor, University of Nottingham
Designed by Ken Shuttleworth's world-renowned Make Architects, Aspire has been approached as a natural extension of Make's work on the new buildings and landscaping which are currently under construction on the site.
The sculpture takes the form of a slender tubular steel lattice that springs from a concrete column at the base and increases in size from a diameter of 2.19m at the base to 4.85m at the apex. The tapered form allows the structure to sit lightly in the landscape and leads the eye upwards as it unfurls, while the latticework effect enhances the vertical emphasis and lends an appropriate lightness and transparency to the massive sculpture.
The delicate structure has been engineered for maximum strength and resilience, and is formed from hollow section steel tubes measuring 140mm in diameter. The lattice design efficiently transfers the considerable loads down to the ground while the aperture at the top is angled at 60 degrees to the north in order to minimise wind loads.
To harmonise with the terracotta-tiled cladding of the newly constructed Amenities Building and International House on Jubilee Campus Aspire has been painted red, subtly changing and lightening in tone as the structure rises.
Aspire, which will be lit during the hours of darkness, has been described by the
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Colin Campbell, as having strength, elegance and real purpose.
Sir Colin Campbell said: "The generosity of an anonymous benefactor has given The University of Nottingham and the City of Nottingham an iconic and inspirational landmark."
The cost of design, manufacture and installation of Aspire amounting to £800,000 has been paid for by the anonymous donation. The sculpture was named following a competition amongst The University of Nottingham's 6,500 staff and 36,000 students.
Ken Shuttleworth said: "Creating a sculptural form on this scale and for this setting has been a fascinating design challenge. We're also particularly pleased that it is the University's students and staff who have been responsible for actually naming the sculpture. These are the people who will experience the sculpture as part of their daily environment, and we hope that they will feel a real sense of ownership and pride in this striking new addition to the campus."
For more information on the expansion of Jubilee Campus go to:
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/estate/jubilee.htm
Specification:
Height
overall: 60m
concrete column: 8m
mast: 52m
Diameter
concrete column: 2.202m
mast at column: 2.190 m
mast at widest: 4.85 m
Weight/mass
overall (including foundations): 854 tonnes
concrete column: 86.2 tonnes
mast (in three sections): 49.60 tonnes
Foundations
number of piles: 47
cubic metres of concrete in foundations: 256
weight of steel reinforcement 27.2 tonnes
weight of concrete foundations: 691 tonnes
Mast
Lineal metres of steel tube: 1250
Lineal metres of weld: 400 (approx)
area of paint: 620 m"²
time to first redecoration: 15-20 years
Manufacturing Information
concrete foundations and column build period: 10 weeks
mast fabrication period: 23 weeks
mast erection period: 2 days
size of crane to lift mast: 300 tonne
Design Concept: Ken Shuttleworth, Make
Project management: Wilson Large and Partners, Nottingham
Structural consultant: Millward Partnership, Nottingham
Fabrication: Watson Steel Limited, Bolton
Ground works: Northfield Limited, Nottingham
Phase One of Jubilee Campus was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in1999. Since then its cutting-edge sustainable buildings have won numerous accolades.
Phase Two of Jubilee Campus is well underway. The 18 acre Research and Innovation Park and its signature buildings have been designed by Make "€“ led by Ken Shuttleworth, the creator of the Swiss Re Tower in the City of London (better known to many as The Gherkin).
Phase two of Jubilee Campus will feature:
The Gateway Building: This signature building will support the University's 'spin out' companies "€“ business ventures inspired by University of Nottingham research and innovation. The striking building will unite Jubilee Campus Phases 1 and 2.
International House: This building will bring together the University's overseas interests, including the International Office, Centre for English Language Education, Institute for Work, Health and Organisations, and the recently established School of Contemporary Chinese Studies.
Amenities Building: Supporting the expanding campus, this will house a new restaurant and multi-faith space.
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Notes to Editors: The University of Nottingham is ranked in the UK's Top 10 and the World's Top 70 universities by the Shanghai Jiao Tong (SJTU) and Times Higher (THE) World University Rankings.
It provides innovative and top quality teaching, undertakes world-changing research, and attracts talented staff and students from 150 nations. Described by The Times as Britain's "only truly global university", it has invested continuously in award-winning campuses in the United Kingdom, China and Malaysia.
Twice since 2003 its research and teaching academics have won Nobel Prizes. The University has won the Queen's Award for Enterprise in both 2006 (International Trade) and 2007 (Innovation "€” School of Pharmacy).
Its students are much in demand from 'blue-chip' employers. Winners of Students in Free Enterprise for four years in succession, and current holder of UK Graduate of the Year, they are accomplished artists, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, innovators and fundraisers. Nottingham graduates consistently excel in business, the media, the arts and sport. Undergraduate and postgraduate degree completion rates are amongst the highest in the United Kingdom.