Artists: Dean Colls and Louise Skacej
Fabricator: Meridian Sculpture
Location: St Kilda, VIC
Installed on the St Kilda foreshore, “Skater” is a six-metre bronze sculpture by Melbourne artists Dean Colls and Louise Skajec. The work stands on the site of the former St. Moritz Ice-skating Palais, which operated between 1939 and 1981, and was completed in 2022. Fabricated in sections at Meridian Sculpture in Fitzroy and assembled off-site, the work was installed by JK Fasham.
Partridge provided structural engineering services for the project, addressing the challenges posed by the sculpture’s scale, geometry, and location. Engineering input included the design and documentation of foundations and internal supports to ensure stability under self-weight and wind loading. The materials used in the structure, including bronze and stainless steel, were specified with durability in mind, considering the sculpture’s exposed location near Port Phillip Bay.
Partridge’s involvement helped ensure that the structural elements were appropriately designed to support the form while withstanding the long-term demands of the coastal environment.
