UCF Designed Solar Sculpture

2018 to Present

UCF partnered with both Orlando City Soccer and Orlando Utilities to create an eye catching solar sculpture that will be built outside the Orlando City Soccer Stadium. Collaborative teams were compromised of mechanical and electrical engineers, and art students to plan different sculptures that utilized solar panels in a non-traditional way. The goal was to bring solar power into the public sphere and show the public that renewable energy can be beautiful and seen in our everyday lives.

Teams competed to create sculptures that would fit the theme of soccer and use solar power to create an excess of power. After two presentations to the boards of directors, one sculpture was picked.  The winning sculpture is an idealization of soccer made into a functional solar producer.

During the day, soccer fans will see a large monument to soccer and at night, they will see the boundaries of the sculpture pushed as the light creates shadows on the sidewalk. The sculpture contains LED lights, which can be used to accent its surroundings at night and on game days. Not only will it create its own power for the lights, but also it will produce 1,264 kWh annually, more than enough to power an electric-vehicle charging station.

The sculpture stands more than 15 feet high and its diameter at 10 feet. This ensures the safety of the public, as the top of the ball will start around 6 feet off the ground, keeping it from being a head injury magnet. This sculpture will be a large monument that will create an amazing centerpiece and backdrop for the stadium.