By Ingrid Nelson, Class of 2019
More than 45 docents and staff gave a standing ovation after watching “Better than Perfect: The Story of Cloudgate” on Sept. 18th in Gand Lecture Hall. The film describes the complex process of fabricating and finishing Amish Kapoor’s 130-ton iconic sculpture. Fascinating footage of the inner 0-Ring super structure with plates weighing up to a ton were featured. The Ironworkers fit them together perfectly, like a giant jigsaw puzzle. Workers detailed the grinding, welding, and finishing—both during the film and in a question-and-answer session which followed. They had worked inside the Bean in Haz-Mat suits with temperatures up to 110 degrees! One ironworker pulled out his cell phone and shared photos with the docent sitting nearby.
If you have not had a chance to see the film, here is a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyPrWFQJQTw
So who are the Ironworkers? Paul Wende, their business manager, said you can’t walk a block in the Loop without being surrounded by a curtain wall system, storefront, or window wall system that Local #63 members and contractors weren’t involved. All the shiny stuff you see—they have probably done it. The Union has represented architectural and ornamental ironworkers since 1903 and has two training facilities near their headquarters. The newest, the “Glass House”, just opened this spring and is exclusively devoted to glass curtain wall and window wall techniques. Its black glass with black frames in a curvy hourglass shape show off the high-end techniques learned inside!
The photo above is home to the Ironworkers (IW) Local 63 Training School’s newest curtainwall and window wall training center. Photo courtesy of IW 63.
Ironworkers Local 63 and the CAC plan to continue working together. We anticipate a docent field trip to their Glass House training facility in Broadview, Illinois in the spring. Stay tuned!
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Ingrid, Thank you for highlighting this presentation. For me it was the best ever.
You mention a docent at the end of the first paragraph. An iron worker seen in the video named Greg “Hammer” Japczy in an orange t-shirt sat in front of me. When I asked a question he eventually turned around and started showing me pictures on his iPhone during the placing of the last piece on The Bean. Rightly so, all of the iron workers are very proud of The Bean.
I encourage all to watch the video. It will change dramatically how you view the Bean.
Looking forward to the spring visit to the Ironworkers (IW) Local 63 Training School. Sign me up.
I wasn’t able to attend that night, but I loved the video and your article and photos here. Thanks, Ingrid!