The distinctive looping structure of the ArcelorMittal Orbit is an icon of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The striking steel tower became a perfect symbol of the brilliance and originality of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Visitors making the ascent are rewarded with breath-taking views over the park and 20 miles beyond. Britain’s largest sculpture was fashioned from 2000 tonnes of steel (this is the same as 265 double-decker buses). Steel is the only metal that is infinitely recyclable and therefore more than 60% of the steel used in the ArcelorMittal Orbit was recycled from old cars, washing machines and steel building materials.

The ArcelorMittal Orbit was created by sculptor Sir Anish Kapoor, and designer Cecil Balmond, two of the most influential artists of their generation. The pair were drawn to the opportunity to put something different on the skyline of London, not an office block, but a piece of art that offers each visitor their own experience.

The ambitious plan to build the ArcelorMittal Orbit came from a chance conversation between London Mayor, Boris Johnson, and Lakshmi Mittal, of the world’s largest steel company ArcelorMittal. The Mayor of London mentioned the idea of creating a landmark to commemorate the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games and Lakshmi Mittal immediately came on board with the project – committing ArcelorMittal to provide the steel to build the structure.

ArcelorMittal make steel in more than 20 countries with a presence in over 60. They see steel being the “fabric of life” as much of what of we take for granted depends on steel, including the vehicles we travel in, the machines that wash the clothes we wear, the buildings we live and work in, and even the cutlery we use when we eat.

The ArcelorMittal Orbit was made from 600 pre-fabricated star-like nodes. These were precision-built by a team of 100 staff in Bolton, Lancashire and assembled on site by four men and a crane. This created the superstructure of the sculpture, and then lifts and interior viewing platforms were added.

There are four uses of steel in the ArcelorMittal Orbit: the red super-structure, the spiral stairs, the Corten steel of the canopy and the highly polished steel mirrors in the Upper Deck, designed by Sir Anish Kapoor. 35,000 bolts were used to construct the Orbit and it would take 954 steel drinks cans stacked on top of each other to reach the top of the ArcelorMittal Orbit

The ArcelorMittal Orbit delighted 130,000 visitors during the Games and reopened on 5 April 2014, with the launch of the south of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which has been transformed into a beautiful new open space for London, with meadows, wetlands and waterways.

WEDDINGS

The ArcelorMittal Orbit is licensed to hold weddings and civil partnerships and is offering brides and grooms getting married this summer (until October 2014), a stylish and unforgettable day for £10,000. The exclusive offer is for 80 guests and includes:

Venue hire for the ceremony, dinner and dancing
A delicious three course meal with coffee and truffles
A reception drink of either Pimms or Prosecco
A half bottle of house white or red wine per guest
Toasting Prosecco
Linen and napkins
Water and soft drinks on the table
For smaller parties, the East Twenty Hospitality Suite at the base of the ArcelorMittal Orbit is available for 40-80 guests from just £90 per head, and includes all of the above as well as entry up to the top of the ArcelorMittal Orbit so the show-stopping views can still be enjoyed.