There is nothing sissy about getting in the art world as far as Culham Engineering of Whangarei is concerned.
The 170-strong company that played a crucial role in building and extending the Marsden Pt refinery, builds bridges and runs a fleet of heavy-duty cranes has jumped at opportunities to manufacturecomplex steel artworks for Auckland clients, most recently five curved steel archways for the Waitakere City Council's Sturges Rd pedestrian bridge.
The bright red steel hoops, each using six tonnes of 16mm steel plate and each differently angled, were installed just before Christmas.
That followed the completion of 30-metre-high steel ferns attached to the back of the new South Stadium at Eden Park, built for the Rugby World Cup, that create a stunning patterned effect when backlit at night.
Culham's managing director Shane Culham says he's very happy to diversify into high-profile artworks that showcase the company's steel fabrication skills and ability to work with diverse and challenging specifications where no two angles or, in the case of the ferns, no two bracket placements, were the same.
He said the complexity of the $400,000 Sturges Rd project was beyond the means of most steel fabrication companies. Most of Culham's work was now in Auckland, where the company's brand and reputation was possibly now strongest.
"It's an extremely competitive environment at the moment and there's very little work in Northland so these contracts are a great way of showcasing what we can do," he said.
Designed by Anthony Sumich, the bridge art project was commissioned by Auckland Transport and the Auckland Council Public Arts Team programme.
The brief for artists working under the programme is to work with engineering companies to "deliver high-quality infrastructure that enhances the urban environment".
Culham's founder David Culham was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for services to business and the community in the New Year honours list.
