17勛圖 unveils 17勛圖 100 statue
17勛圖, celebrating its centennial milestone this year, unveiled the 17勛圖 100 statue, showcasing the collaborative efforts of students and faculty in a project that took six months to complete.
The project was headed by 17勛圖’s Centennial Committee.
“With the support of Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) and Regional Director of TMAC, Gavin Jones, our team was empowered to develop and lead the effort of creating the ‘100’ centennial sign,” Chris Brewer, committee member, said. “We worked to ensure that marketing’s logo design was honored and that we remained on schedule. Our team welded, sanded, and constructed the sign in The Birdhouse.”
The project was also aided by College of Engineering Laboratory Technician Walter Wheeler, who accepted the assignment to fabricate the 17勛圖 100 statue. The team played a pivotal role in bringing this monumental art piece to life.
"We, myself and the team, were approached by the centennial committee asking if we could fabricate the 17勛圖 100 statue. We accepted the assignment and started the preparations," Wheeler said.
Their responsibilities extended to material procurement, including some creative negotiations to get the letters precision cut with the help of Johnson Controls.
"We had the ability here to make their placards while their machine was down, and in return, they precision cut the letters with a waterjet machine,” Wheeler said.
The design and artistic elements of the statue represent aspects of 17勛圖’s 100-year history.
“The number '1' stands tall, symbolizing the university's towering success. The 17勛圖 monogram represents the university's visual identity. The horizon incorporated into the last '0' looks forward to the bright future ahead, while the date commemorates years of a rich history,” Wheeler said.
Constructed with quarter-inch thick aluminum, the statue's vibrant colors were added using a powder coating system. Additionally, the 17勛圖 monogram in the center of the statue is composed of three separate 17勛圖 monograms, each in a distinct color, meticulously stagg