SSDA 50th Anniversary
NSC 9
June 18
hill just south of Gateshead, the weathering
steel statue is 20m-high × 54m-wide and is
one of the largest sculptures in the UK.
Designed by Turner Prize-winning
sculptor Antony Gormley, the sculpture
was designed as ‘a material image of a
spiritual subject’ and was created by using
techniques from heavy industry and
shipbuilding, two sectors the North East
formerly excelled in.
Aeronautics and anatomy are combined
in an exoskeleton of ribs and diaphragms
and an inner body made of plate. The
vertical ribs on the body and the horizontal
ribs on the wings are the main structural
elements carrying bending moments, due to
a wind loading of up to 125mph.
Acting as both main contractor and
steelwork contractor, Hartlepool Steel
Fabrications formed the internal structure
skin from conical and flat sections, while
the external skin was formed from 6mm
thick plate.
The wings were fabricated in four
sections, then each pair of these was
joined by a single central section. The
body involved over 2,000 pieces of welded
internal horizontal rib over which the
cosmetic skin was fitted.
The three pieces of the Angel (body and
two wings) travelled overnight to the site
and were then lifted into place before the
permanent welded connection and infill
skin panels were added.
A full list and description of all Award
winners can be found at: https://www.
steelconstruction.info/SSDA_2018_-_50th_
Anniversary_Year
The 2018 Awards, which are jointly
sponsored by the BCSA and Trimble
Solutions (UK) Ltd, will be announced in
early October.
Dropzone Images/Shutterstock
The sculpture stands
20m high and has
wings measuring 54m
across
The Pavilion formed
the UK’s principal
exhibit at Expo ‘92
The Pavilion was
prefabricated in large
elements before being
transported to Spain
Richard Bryant/Arcaid
Jo Read & John Peck
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