All RISE As Belfast Landmark Looms

RISE, a 'breathtaking sculpture', is about to change Belfast's skyline forever.

The new landmark for Belfast is being built at Broadway Roundabout, one of the main gateways to the city. It will be the biggest public art sculpture in Belfast.

The sculpture's two globes, cast in silver and white steel, will be lit to symbolise the rising of the sun and new hope for Belfast's future.

It aims to help revitalise Belfast, bringing a new focus to the area and projecting a vibrant, confident image of the city.

At 37.5m high and 30m wide, RISE will be three metres taller than the Albert Clock and six times the weight of a double-decker bus.

RISE is to being located on the southern approach to the city at Broadway and will be visible to the 65,000 people who use the M1 and Westlink daily as well as from the air by over 2.5M passengers who travel in and out of George Best Belfast City Airport every year.

Many pedestrians will walk underneath it on their way to the Park Centre shopping complex or the Royal Victoria Hospital.

Wolfgang Buttress is the creative genius behind RISE. An experienced artist and sculptor, Wolfgang has produced simple, elegant and contextual artworks for the public realm in the UK, USA, Europe and Japan.

It's estimated that the on-site construction will take between six and eight weeks, with a completion date scheduled for the end of Spring.

Ground works and lighting are due to commence at the end of the Summer 2011.

(GK/BMcC)