Meridiana Tower

Rise Communities enlisted YESCO to create a unique tower for the Amenity Village Courtyard, located within its residential development near Houston, Texas. Not only is Meridiana Tower a striking work of art, it is also a solar observatory that connects the earth with the sky. The Tower creates a sunspot on the ground that moves as the earth spins and crosses the meridian line at local solar noon. The spot is centered on the analemma etched into the ground at 12:21 and 30 seconds and is accurate to within two seconds of the atomic clock. The Meridiana Tower also serves as a engineered illuminated sculpture by night-the product of careful testing and coordination between all fabrication departments at YESCO.

Designer Stephen Shortell worked with our client and Dan Lester, PhD of the University of Texas McDonald Observatory to insure the Tower’s accuracy. Numerous early concepts were developed until the signature curved shape was chosen.