La Tormenta
by Inigo Manglano-Ovalle
at the U.S. General Service Administration Building
in Chicago, IL. July 2006
A four-person M&M crew worked with the artist and his assistants for one week to assemble and install La Tormenta in the lobby of this high profile location.
Prior to the arrival of each sculpture, six stainless steel cables were hung from the atrium ceiling. From a nearby balcony, transit lasers were used to determine the sculpture’s hanging points on the cables.
After the top portion of the sculpture was assembled, it was attached to the three hanging cables and hoisted up. The lower portion of the cloud could then be attached while the gilded titanium aluminum alloy, a sensitive finish, avoided contact with the floor. A specially designed lifting triangle, constructed by M&M, maintained cable distance and orientation to the piece, while an 8T carry-deck crane with jib allowed remarkable access. With two sculptural elements in mid-air, maneuvering was challenging, but successful.