Common Cents: Penny Harvest, volunteer opportunities for students, school volunteer projects, community service for children students youth, youth volunteer opportunities, youth philanthropy, school children, student volunteers, volunteering, not-for-profit, non-profit, money raising, fund raising, fundraising, New York City

Penny Harvest Field at Rockefeller Center

the power of children. the promise of community



	• History • Logistics


	The Build

	How did Common Cents create a work of public art that is also a feat of engineering? We couldn’t have done it alone. This project attracted the expertise of a world class architect, specialists in construction services, leaders in project management, and accomplished structural engineers. Moved by what Common Cents was trying to accomplish and the good work of Penny Harvest children, our partners all donated or discounted their services to bring the Penny Harvest Field to life this holiday season. Phase I - Off-site Construction Throughout November 2007, the entire 165 x 30 foot field was built in sections in Mount Vernon, NY. The field was then trucked to Rockefeller Center in 10 foot sections for overnight installation. The comprised of three main parts: The field The light boxes The knee wall Phase II – On-site Construction Over two nights, the structure was put into place. Below are just some of the steps that were needed to secure 600,000 pounds of pennies in one of the busiest intersections in New York City, and to ensure the structure is built without comprising the integrity of the street (which is really the roof of the Rockefeller Center Concourse!): Created a new concrete curb in which the steel walls of the field were bolted, to account for the overwhelming weight of the pennies. Installed a drainage mat to keep the pennies dry and sparkling throughout the month. Accounted for the curvature of the street to ensure the penny field lay level on the plaza. Checked the height of the pennies to ensure there was proper structural integrity. Phase III – Demolition, Storage and Re-use When the Penny Harvest Field display ended on New Year’s Eve, we knew the pennies would be put to good use through grants and community service, but what about the field? Our team designed and built it so that it could be taken apart and stored for future use. Who knows where the Penny Harvest Field will appear next!


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COMMON CENTS | 570 Columbus Avenue | New York, NY 10024 | (212) PENNIES | (212) 579-3488 fax | info@CommonCents.org

©2012 Common Cents New York, Inc.
Common Cents® and Penny Harvest™ are trademarks of Common Cents New York, Inc.