Aspire (sculpture)

Aspire is a work of art, constructed on the Jubilee Campus of the University of Nottingham, in Nottingham, England. It is a 60-metre tall, red and orange steel sculpture, and is the largest free standing public work of art in Britain [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/7196403.stm BBC News - University reveals 60-metre spike] ] , larger than Nelson's Column, The Angel of the North and The Statue of Liberty [ [http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/shared/shared_exchange/pdf/18244_Uni_Exchange_p15.pdf University of Nottingham Article] ] . Designed by Ken Shuttleworth and MAKE Architects [ [http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=1330 Skyscraper News] ] , its height consists of 8m concrete foundation and 52m red and orange steel, in total weighing 854 tonnes, and cost £800,000 [ [http://kera.name/articles/2008/01/eight-hundred-grand-to-aspire/ Kera.name - Eight Hundred Grand to Aspire] ] , which was donated by an anonymous benefactor [ [http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=2003 World Architecture News] ] . The name Aspire was chosen after a competition to name the sculpture, which was open to staff and students at the university. [ [http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/public-affairs/press-releases/index.phtml?menu=pressreleases&code=UNVE-14/08&create_date=18-jan-2008 University of Nottingham Press release] ] Aspire now has its own website at http://aspire.nottingham.ac.uk

The structure was fabricated by Watson Steel Structures Ltd in Bolton Lancashire, and was then transported to Widnes Chesire where Merseyside Coatings Ltd applied the unique and distinctive Red and Orange colour scheme.

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