Pendulum art piece removed for safety reasons

A recent increase in popularity of riding the pendulum art piece located outside of the Padnos Hall of Science prompted Facilities Services to remove the piece due to concerns over the safety of students. After the removal yesterday, workers discovered that the cable was indeed fraying.

Officials in Facilities Services had been considering options of what to do with the piece prior to videos that parody a Miley Cyrus music video that were posted online and are receiving national attention.

“The examination of the structural integrity of the installation showed cable decay,” Associate Vice President for Facilities Services Tim Thimmesch said. “We’ll have a structural engineer review the installation and provide an assessment of the load on the beam – particularly when there is added weight. Safety is our main concern. We hope the pendulum can be reinstalled at that location or at another suitable location on campus.”

Thimmesch said he does not know when another location will be found, and until then the pendulum will remain in storage.

The sculpture, called a bifilar pendulum, was created by artist Dale Eldred. It was installed in the Kirkhof Center in 1974, where it hung for more than six years, and was later installed near Padnos Hall of Science in 1995.