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INDIANAPOLIS DIVES INTO THE OLYMPICS WITH COLLABORATIVE CONSTRUCTION OF 70-FOOT EIFFEL TOWER REPLICA

INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- MAY 31ST, 2024 – In the spirit of international collaboration on display at the Olympics, a dedicated team in Indianapolis is coming together to build a 70-foot replica of the Eiffel Tower. This impressive structure will soon grace the Olympic Swimming Trials, held in Indianapolis June 15th through 19th and organized by Indy Sports Corp. It will stand as the centerpiece of an open-air market celebrating Paris on Georgia Street. The Tower replica, like the Olympic games, serves as a testament to the power of teamwork and community.

A COLLABORATIVE MASTERPIECE

In December, Indy Sports Corp commissioned the Tower design. The project began with the Latinas Welding Guild, led by Consuelo Lockhart, tapped to handle the build phase. Then, industrial designer and owner of Maker Factory, Brian Hull began work to produce the drawings needed for construction. “The Eiffel Tower is an engineering marvel for a reason,” says Hull. “Scaling it down requires collaborative problem-solving and brainstorming on a large scale.”

Maker Factory, The Latinas Welding Guild, Wilhelm Construction, RAD Fabrication, Poynter Design, and JQOL Engineering are all working together to see the replica come to life. Hull and a team of more than six designers at Poynter and engineers at JQOL have worked meticulously to translate the Eiffel Tower design for a smaller scale, preserving its structural integrity and iconic look.

Wilhelm Construction, led by Pat Kenney and currently overseeing a major build on Georgia Street, offered to install the base. RAD Fabrication, led by Robert Daly, has been instrumental in transforming the designs into component parts. RAD shop manager Paul Miller and Hull are working around the clock to manufacture the roughly 1,600 parts required for the build. Completed parts are then sent for welding by the Latinas Guild, Poynter, and Wilhelm.

A STORY OF TEAMWORK AND DEDICATION

This project extends far beyond the spotlight of a single individual or group. It’s a story of designers, engineers, fabricators, project managers, welders, construction workers, and installers – all coming together to achieve a remarkable feat. The team gathers multiple times a week, dedicating work and personal time to ensure its success. Their motivation? It is not simply a paycheck but the opportunity to create something truly inspiring, a beacon of unity in these challenging times.

“Collaboration isn't easy,” says Hull. “It’s messy, but it’s how we achieve our dreams and build incredible things. We need projects like this now more than ever. This project is a testament to the fact that progress requires all of us working together. If one person fails, we all fail. That’s the true essence of collaboration and community.”