In the latest edition of the ‘Corrosion of Iconic Structures’ series, Gustavo Romero shares information on Cloud Gate (also known as ‘The Bean’), a concave stainless-steel structure located in Chicago, US.
Designed by the Indo-British designer Anish Kapoor, the attraction sits at the centre of the AT&T Plaza in Millennium Park, measuring in at 66-foot-long by 32-foot-high in stainless steel.
Aptly named ‘The Bean’ for its bean-like resemblance, the structure was originally created in 1999 by the Millennium Park authorities who decided that the park needed a central work of art, and therefore created a design competition for the attraction. Anish Kapoor’s design was selected, and the attraction was constructed and revealed in the park by 2004, estimated at $11.5 million in value.
In this article, we break down in detail the history of the iconic structure, its complex construction process, as well as current and future corrosion risks.
View ArticleRelated Insights
A Career in Proposals, Built on Engineering Experience: Meet Ashish
Ashish’s story shows how an engineering career can present opens the door to many exciting opportunities and how valuable early project experience can...
Subject Matter Expert Evaluation of Pipeline Integrity Trained, Agentic Artificial Intelligence Based Technical Advisory System
As artificial intelligence tools, particularly large language models (LLMs), continue to evolve, their potential for supporting technically complex domains such as pipeline integrity management is...
Artificial Intelligence in Pipeline Integrity: What the Evidence Actually Says
Where can AI be trusted in pipeline integrity management? In the August issue of World Pipelines, Penspen digital experts explore the evidence from Penspen’s evaluation of Aura, an AI-based...
From Chokepoints to Corridors: Why Energy Security Now Depends on Infrastructure Resilience
In the 31st issue of Dar Magazine, Nigel Curson, EVP of Technical Excellence, explores why resilient infrastructure will play a defining role in Africa's long-term energy security and economic...