Sun Dial

Also known as Project 70 .

No. 11 · 1971

This structure reimagines the ancient art of solar timekeeping through the lens of modern engineering and architecture. Its pre-cast concrete ribs, linked by tensioned steel cables, curve gracefully in a parabolic arc designed to follow the sun’s path with precision. Brass hour markers once adorned the structure, adding a functional yet artistic element, while the play of light and shadow transformed the landscape into a timepiece.

Originally, the Sun Dial was part of a broader plan that included an acoustic dam intended to amplify the sound of the nearby creek. However, environmental concerns led to the dam’s cancellation, leaving the Sun Dial to take center stage. Construction demanded both creativity and technical expertise: students used a leapfrog tensioning system to assemble the ribs, epoxy resin for joint stability, and surveying tools to ensure solar alignment. The process required constant problem-solving, reflecting the project’s spirit of experimentation.

While decades of exposure to the elements have left it partially deteriorated, the Sun Dial endures as a functional sculpture and a testament to the power of collaboration. Its design celebrates not only the rhythms of the sun but also the ingenuity of those who built it, offering a lasting reminder of architecture’s ability to merge art, science, and the natural world.

Builders and advisors

  • John Stuart — Advisor
  • Dean Archambeau (ARCE) — Builder
  • Michael Cheung (ARCE) — Builder
  • Ross Downey (ARCE) — Builder
  • Ty Fiscus (ARCE) — Builder
  • Bradley Gilton (ARCE) — Builder
  • Lee Haney (ARCE) — Builder
  • Ken Hill (ARCE) — Builder
  • Minoru Ikeda — Builder
  • Jim Kaping — Builder
  • Prayad Katanyutanon — Builder
  • Darrel Kleinhesselink — Builder
  • Allen Lane — Builder
  • Ron Larson — Builder
  • Boom Manoburachailert — Builder
  • Bill McEvoy — Builder
  • Russ Michealsen — Builder
  • Yuen Chung Pi — Builder
  • Clayton Pharaoh — Builder
  • Bob Predmore — Builder
  • Ernie Reamer — Builder
  • Edgar Rodriguez — Builder
  • Nick Romanzov — Builder
  • Richard Tamae — Builder
  • Phil Thorson — Builder
  • Bob Tinney — Builder
  • Allen Tom — Builder
  • Aziz Turki — Builder
  • Ron Whitney — Builder

solar timekeeping, pre-cast concrete ribs, parabolic curves, brass hour markers, tensioned steel cables, environmental harmony, functional sculpture

Location

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Sources & further reading

Photographs

Main image of the Sun Dial.
Cleaned sundial photographed, from 2019.
Historical image of the sundial in its original, complete form.
Close-up image of the Sun Dial.