Even the sculptures on the Wichita State campus are being affected by construction.

Some areas along Alumni Drive and between Morrison and Jardine Halls are closed due to the installation of steam and water pipes for the new residence hall.

Located outside of Jardine Hall, Barbara Hepworth’s sculpture, “Figure (Archaean),” was in the path of the construction.

To prevent damage, the sculpture was removed earlier this month and put into storage. It will remain there until Spring 2014.

“It’s in our archives, and it’s in our permanent collection. It was mainly removed because there is going to be construction, and we were removing it to be protected,” said Jessy Clonts, Ulrich Museum’s Public Relations and Marketing Manager.

Created in 1959 and acquired by WSU in 1973, “Figure (Archaean)” is shaped like a human shoulder blade. Made of bronze, it has two gaps – one circular, one elliptical – that allow the viewer to see the background and landscape simultaneously with the sculpture.

While “Figure (Archaean)” has moved to storage, another sculpture is moving back to its original home.

Before the RSC construction began, George Rickey’s “Two Line Oblique Down, Variation III”, was the centerpiece of the garden area between the RSC and Grace Memorial Chapel.

“Two Line Oblique Down” is a “Y” with two steel blades attached at the ends. Based on the mechanics of a pendulum, the stainless steel blades rotate freely on the sculpture. It was built in 1970 and acquired by WSU in 1972.

With the completion of the north side of the RSC, the sculpture was set to return to its original location. But due to foundation damage, installation will be delayed until it’s fixed.