ArcelorMittal Orbit, Observation tower in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, England.
The ArcelorMittal Orbit is an observation tower made of red steel in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. The structure twists upward in a spiral form and holds two viewing platforms connected by a staircase that winds through the framework.
The sculpture was built for the opening of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, designed by artist Anish Kapoor and engineer Cecil Balmond. Steel company ArcelorMittal funded the project and gave the structure its name.
The name joins ArcelorMittal, the steel company of sponsor Lakshmi Mittal, with Orbit, the working title chosen by Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond. The tower has drawn both praise and criticism, including claims that it is a vanity project of doubtful value as public art.
The tower stands on the South Plaza between London Stadium and the Aquatics Centre, a short walk from Stratford station. Two observation platforms are reached by a lift or by a spiral staircase inside the red steel framework. The 178 m tunnel slide, added in 2016, offers an alternative descent, and abseiling has been available since 2014.
A tunnel slide made of clear plastic runs 178 meters (584 feet) in a spiral around the outside of the tower from top to bottom. The ride takes about 40 seconds and passes through 12 complete loops of the steel framework.
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