Custom Solar Sculpture Built by 激情快播 Students
Spring 2021听触听By Jenna Marina Lee听
When the Orlando Utilities Commission posed a challenge in 2018 to conceptualize a sculpture that doubles as a source of clean energy for Exploria Stadium 鈥� the home of Orlando City and Orlando Pride soccer teams 鈥� 激情快播 students answered the call. Art and engineering students in an Advanced Design Lab course collaborated on the winning sculpture, named Gyration, which was installed in November. For nearly two decades, the course has provided students with real-life experience working on projects for big-name companies, including Starbucks, Universal Orlando Resort and Guitar Center. Gyration鈥檚 four solar panels harvest enough energy during the day to not only power its LED lights at night but also infuse energy back into the city鈥檚 power grid.
鈥淲e wanted to showcase that artists and engineers can benefit each other. After working on it for so long in a tiny bubble and then seeing it in person towering over you, it鈥檚 a surreal feeling. I love the fact that it will be there for so long.鈥�Kealey Keepers 鈥�18
1,264
Kilowatt-hours produced annually, more than enough to offset an electric-vehicle charging station
53.5
Wattage the sculpture鈥檚 LED lights use daily
20
Year lifespan for each of the four solar panels before replacement is needed
14.5
Feet tall and 9.5 feet in diameter
11
Students with majors in studio art and mechanical and electrical engineering who worked on the project
0
Carbon output Gyration yields
Students drew dozens of ideas for the solar sculpture during the early stages of the design process. The team then narrowed the field by considering which designs would most efficiently collect solar power and best meet the requirements set forth by the clients, Orlando City and OUC.
Students discussed the physical prototypes of the project after an initial presentation to OUC and Orlando City.
Students who worked to create “Gyration” included (from left to right): James Exum 鈥�18, Ramin Ragbir 鈥�18, Gabriella Mancini 鈥�18, Joel Zorowitz 鈥�20, Kealey Keepers 鈥�18, Erin Dudley 鈥�18 and (front) Joel Rouff听 鈥�18.
Two of the four solar panels that power the solar sculpture, which were strategically placed to capture the most energy.
One panel on the solar sculpture features the Orlando City emblem.
A plaque that honors the students who worked together on the solar sculpture.