Oakland  

 Sundial: 236
State/Province:  California Country:  USA
Dial Type:  Horizontal Dial Condition:  Good
  Latitude and Longitude: 37° 46.696' N  122° 10.983' W
Location:
  • Mills College
    5000 MacArthur Boulevard, Oakland, California 94613
    In the courtyard of the Physical Sciences and Mathematics Bldg.
 
Description:
  • Large horizontal dial, with steel gnomon 26 ft. (8m) long, 16 ft. (5m) high, and 6 ft. (2m) wide. It looks like a sculpture of three interlocking triangles. The triangles of 2-inch thick Cor-Ten steel plates create the dial's gnomon and supporting structure. Overall, the sundial weighs about 5,700 pounds. The dial sits in a courtyard where the only hour markers are placed on the lawn and brick patio around the dial. EOT values for every 5 days are shown on the north face of the support.

    "Dhaemers wrote an article for Mills Magazine in 1970 describing his process for the design of the sundial. Richard Wistar, head of the Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics, asked Dhaemers to create a sundial for the department’s new building, dedicated in May 1970: 'What an interesting and exciting challenge,' Dhaemers wrote. 'But what do I know about sundials, except that they cast a shadow and indicate the time?'
 
General Information:Inscription:
  • Owner: Mills College
  • EoT on the north face of the dial's support
  • Designer: Robert Dhaemers, sculptor
  • Builder: Robert Dhaemers, sculptor
  • Construction Date: 1970
 
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Last Revised: 20259-06-18 15:20