Pick Everard to project manage The Solar Pyramid

Pick Everard has been appointed to project manage the design and construction of The Solar Pyramid - the UK's largest work of art and the world's biggest timepiece.

Leading multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard has been appointed to project manage the design and construction of one of the most extraordinary pieces of art in the country - and the world's biggest timepiece.

The Solar Pyramid is a privately funded project worth around £2.4 million and has already secured support from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Sheffield University and Dr Robin Catchpole of the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge (formerly Senior Astronomer of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich) among many others.

Pick Everard's role will be to project manage the completion of design and delivery of the finished project.

With planning permission already granted, work is due to start on the site in Derbyshire in spring 2007.

The opening is planned for the Summer Solstice 2008.

The structure will be 58 metres (190 feet) tall and will comprise three highly polished stainless steel, leaning, blade-like towers.

These towers tell the date and time by casting a shadow onto an enormous elliptical sundial base.

The steel superstructure of each tower will be clad in highly reflective, mirror-polished and green-coloured stainless steel to reflect light and capture movement.

The project was conceived and designed by local artists, Adam Walkden and Richard Lester Swain.

The combination of visionary design and leading edge technology will create a spectacular work of art; Pick Everard is delighted to play such an important role in the realisation of this vision.

Duncan Green, Partner at Pick Everard, said: "This is a landmark project and we are thrilled to be involved".

"Our firm has a long history and great expertise in engineering and the environment".

Associate Andrew Bannister, who is leading the project team and is also environmental manager at Pick Everard, added: "I am delighted to have been asked to take this exciting project forward in the coming months and to be working closely with what is an exceptional design team".

The Solar Pyramid will not only be a work of art but will also be home to a Visitor Centre, which will become a centre of excellence for exploring the relationship between the earth and the sun, and for developing ideas for utilising solar energy.

The structure will be visible from the M1 between junctions 29 and 30.

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