The Doral-based American Welding Society (AWS), the world s largest organization dedicated to advancing the science, technology and application of welding, presented an Extraordinary Welding Award to the Times Square New Year s Eve ball during a special ceremony Jan. 6.
Voted on by AWS s Past-Presidents Committee, the award celebrates technical design or outstanding development in welded fabrication, recognizing welding excellence in construction, fabrication and manufacturing, and designating those welded structures whose purpose has importance in, or influence on, history.
The geodesic sphere, 12 feet in diameter and weighing 11,875 pounds. was created by Hudson Scenic Studios. The Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) process was utilized in its aluminum frame construction.
Dean Wilson, president of the American Welding Society, presented the award during the annual ceremony to relight and raise the ball back to its perch above One Times Square. The ball will remain there for all Times Square visitors to see until it drops back down to ring in 2015.
