'Allen the Peregrine Falcon'

Originally installed outside Sheffield’s main railway station, “Allen the Peregrine Falcon” is now perched on the campus of the University of Sheffield outside the Diamond building. The statue was created in 2017 by local artist Jason Helpenstall in recognition of IKEA opening a store in the city.

Helpenstall chose to represent the record-breaking bird of prey in honor of Sheffield’s growing number of real-life peregrines. The falcons have been a familiar sight in the city since 2012 when a few nested and adopted St George’s church tower as their new home. This church tower in fact looks over Allen’s present perch, allowing the birds to gaze over their metallic memento.

The peregrine falcon not only honors Sheffield but also the local IKEA. The statue is actually composed of  17,000 Allen keys, the traditional tool used to assemble IKEA furniture.