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Aerial view of the site of Crown Fountain, under construction. In this photograph both towers have been constructed and the LED panels are in place. Work has begun on the reflecting, or skin, pool. The pipes that are visible going across the reflecting pool pump water up through the granite surface tiles, creating a pool of water only 1/4 of one inch deep. Surrounding each tower is a reservoir that also collects water from the "gargoyle" spray and the cascade feature of the fountain. While 11,000 gallons of water are used each hour, 97% is returned to the reservoirs, filtered, and used again.

The arm of a concrete pump truck extends over SBC Plaza. The Michigan Avenue street wall is visible in the background, and the structural steel of the sculpture is to the right. Although the concrete that was installed at SBC Plaza was heavily reinforced, the weight of the sculpture rests entirely on a load-bearing wall separating the parking garage and Metra tracks below.

Looking southwest toward SBC Plaza during its construction. Rebar, or reinforcing bar, latticework is in place at SBC Plaza, in preparation for pouring the concrete. SBC Plaza is located atop the roof over a restaurant and underground parking garage.

Close-up of rigging and cables on the partially completed sculpture. In the background a worker bolts steel plates together.

Workers adjust cables and rigging on the partially completed sculpture. The cables and rigging held the steel plates in place temporarily until they were all welded together, creating a self-supporting shell structure.

Inside view of the partially completed sculpture showing the structure of iron trusses, cables and rigging, that temporarily held the steel plates in place while the sculpture was assembled. A worker is visible adjusting a cable's tension in the background.

Project supervisor Nick Taylor of Performance Structures, Inc. fastens two plates together using nuts and bolts. The bolts temporarily held the plates in place, until they could be seam-welded together.

Looking northwest toward the partially completed sculpture as a steel plate is moved into place. Each plate was covered with a protective film to maintain its polished surface before being transported from Oakland to Chicago. The protective film was removed once the final plate was in place.

Looking northwest toward the partially completed sculpture over which a weatherproof tent is being constructed. Buildings visible in the background include the Smurfit-Stone Building, and Millennium Park Plaza. The tent provided shelter for the workers during cold weather, and added a cloak of secrecy as the sculpture took shape. The tent was taken down for the Park's opening in July 2004, although the sculpture was not yet completed. The tent was reconstructed in January 2005 for the final welding, grinding and polishing of the sculpture.

Looking northwest toward the site of the partially completed sculpture over which a weatherproof tent has been erected.

Individual steel plates in cradles surround the partially assembled sculpture at SBC Plaza. The Michigan Avenue street wall is visible in the background.

The north tower of Crown Fountain under construction. Each tower is 50 feet tall, 23 feet wide and 16 feet deep, separated by a 232 foot-long reflecting pool. At the bottom of this image the pipes that carry water are visible. Crown Fountain, like most of Millennium Park, is built on top of a parking garage and this introduced problems that are not immediately apparent to the casual observer. The garage remained open during construction and, as all structures do, it moves slightly. To complicate matters further, the water that flows down each side of the tower had to be exactly level for the cascade feature to work as Jaume Plensa designed it.

The structural steel of the sculpture (later named Cloud Gate) during a trial assembly at Performance Structures, Inc. (PSI) in Oakland, California. During the trial fit-up, the base, interior structure, and one-third of the plates were assembled.

Close-up view of the temporary rigging system used to hold the steel plates into place during assembly. The cables were removed once the sculpture was completely seam-welded. The finished sculpture is a self-supporting shell structure that expands and contracts as Chicago's weather fluctuates.

The structural steel of the sculpture towers over a lone steel plate during a trial assembly at Performance Structures, Inc. in Oakland, California.

View of the partially assembled sculpture during the trial assembly in Oakland, California.

Ethan Silva, president of Performance Structures, Inc., in front of the sculpture's structural steel in Oakland, California. The mirror-like "skin" of Cloud Gate was designed to fit loosely around the interior support system of trusses and lattice-work, allowing it to expand and contract as temperatures in Chicago fluctuate as seasons change.

A model of one of Crown Fountain's towers, showing the internal structure. Each tower is 50 feet tall, with a rectangular footprint of 23 feet by 16 feet. Inside each tower is a basic structure with cross bracing for stability and strength, with ladders and platforms to allow access for maintenance, repairs, and cleaning.