PR10-18
STAFF REPORT
Planning and Development Committee, January 21, 2010
Public Art Enhancements to C-Tran Shelters (PR10-18)
Consideration of acceptance of design concept for integrated art enhancements for Cary’s Transit System (C-Tran) shelters
Speaker: Ms. Denise Dickens
From: Mary G. Henderson, Director, PRCR
Prepared by: Denise Dickens, Public Art Coordinator and
Ray S. Boylston, Transit Services Administrator
Approved by: Benjamin T. Shivar, Town Manager
Approved by: Mike Bajorek, Assistant Town Manager
Executive Summary: Project artist Susan Harbage Page has developed a concept for a series of windscreens for future bus shelters that are based on patterns from historic wallpapers from Cary buildings.
Background: As part of the FY 2009 Capital Improvements Budget, Council approved $30,000 for a public artist to design unifying series of designs for C-Tran’s six fixed routes and produce a prototype shelter. On September 24, 2009, Council approved contracting with artist Susan Harbage Page of Chapel Hill, NC to develop art enhancements.
Discussion: The artist has developed a concept to work within the existing prefabricated shelter style that has been identified for installation. The use of this shelter offers a cost-effective approach to integrated public art and can bring a distinctive and attractive appearance to the C-Tran system. The current structure’s classic hip-roof style has a home town look and feel, and the incorporation of solar lighting offers long-term cost savings, location flexibility, and safety feature.
The shelter’s back windscreen is made up of six vertical panels of safety glass. The artist design concept is to enhance these glass panels with etchings. The panels’ transparency and safety requirements can be maintained with the etching enhancements. Cost efficiency and use of existing shelter design were overriding parameters for the project’s development for the shelter series. Working within the windscreen of the shelter design offers a cost-efficient solution to incorporate public art.
The artist has further developed the concept to incorporate patterns from wallpaper designs from historic buildings in Cary as unifying elements for each route. A different wallpaper pattern would create the design for each proposed bus shelter glass windscreen. Additionally, the artist proposes adding color to the bench that relates to the C-Tran bus color.
The shelter benches are actually attached to the shelter. They are aluminum and can be painted at the factory to coordinate with Cary’s C-Tran bus color. The introduction of wallpaper designs etched into windscreens allows each route to have its own distinctive appearance.
The artist’s design concept was developed from her research of Cary. During Ms. Page’s residency, she learned about the project and Cary’s history by meeting with Town staff, interviewing Cary seniors, touring historic buildings, visiting the History Museum at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center and meeting with Cary historian Peggy Van Scoyoc. Ms. Page also spent time riding the C-Tran system and talking with passengers about their experiences.
The current shelter’s hip-roof style reminded her of a house roof, and making the shelter’s interior experience more homelike fit with the vertical glass panels which are almost exactly the dimension of wallpaper. Several of the archival photos of the Page-Walker prior to its renovation inspired the theme for the glass panels. If Council approves the concept recommendation, the artist plans to revisit several historical sights to research additional wall coverings.
Other concepts that Ms. Page considered after listening to citizens and doing her research were Cary’s weather patterns over the years shown in a graph form and silhouettes of historic barns. Multiple concepts could be researched and developed for the windscreens. Ms. Page felt that the patterns that could be taken from historic buildings’ wallpapers fit nicely with the shelters hip-roof style and dimension of the safety glass panels.
The design concept is also a visual experience for the vehicular driver. The simple approach is attractive but not distracting to drivers. The transparent glass with etched pattern will provide a visible and safe environment for passengers waiting for the bus. Solar-powered lighting will allow for flexibility in shelter locations and be more environmentally friendly.
The Public Art Master Plan places priority on integrated art approaches. The Master Plan specifically identifies “Connectivity” Transportation, unique functional infrastructure, and neighborhoods as important focus areas for public art. This project offers a unique opportunity to address those goals and to further enhance
C-Tran.
This project will directly impact the aesthetics and high design standards of Cary’s transit system while also addressing accessibility, comfort and security. Additionally, a decal located on the adjoining glass panel could explain the pattern’s history and building reference thus giving waiting passengers the opportunity to learn more about Cary’s unique history.
Concept Review Process: Broad goals for the project guided the concept development and included:
Create a sense of place
Uniquely Cary, timeless
Provide continuity between C-Tran bus routes
Welcoming, family friendly
Fun and inviting
Sensitive to the needs of the disabled
Respect inherent climate, maintenance, and structural considerations for materials
At its December meeting, the Public Art Advisory Board reviewed Ms. Page’s design concept and responded that it was an aesthetically and broadly pleasing concept. The Board voted unanimously to recommend the concept to Council for Ms. Page to continue designing the unifying series of bus shelters for the Town of Cary.
Fiscal Impact: $30,000 was appropriated in FY 2009 to the PR1137 – Public Art Bus Shelters project for an artist to design a unifying series for six fixed routes and prototype shelter.
The additional cost of the enhancement per shelter is $2,000 to $2,500. The artist’s contract includes the cost to complete one bus shelter project. The budget for the bus shelters is $10,000 per unit. With the prefabricated shelter purchase, installation, as well as the enhanced public art feature, the future shelters remain within the budgeted $10,000 per shelter.
Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends the following:
1. Approval of public art concept to incorporate art in the C-Tran bus shelters by enhancing the glass windscreens with etchings.
2. Approval to introduce patterns taken from wallpaper designs from historic buildings as the basis for different etchings for each shelter.
3. Approval to introduce color for the shelter benches coordinating with the blue C-Tran bus color.
4. Approval to incorporate the art enhancement as a design standard for the bus shelters to be included in future installations.
Planning and Development Committee, January 21, 2010
Public Art Enhancements to C-Tran Shelters (PR10-18)
Consideration of acceptance of design concept for integrated art enhancements for Cary’s Transit System (C-Tran) shelters
Speaker: Ms. Denise Dickens
From: Mary G. Henderson, Director, PRCR
Prepared by: Denise Dickens, Public Art Coordinator and
Ray S. Boylston, Transit Services Administrator
Approved by: Benjamin T. Shivar, Town Manager
Approved by: Mike Bajorek, Assistant Town Manager
Executive Summary: Project artist Susan Harbage Page has developed a concept for a series of windscreens for future bus shelters that are based on patterns from historic wallpapers from Cary buildings.
Background: As part of the FY 2009 Capital Improvements Budget, Council approved $30,000 for a public artist to design unifying series of designs for C-Tran’s six fixed routes and produce a prototype shelter. On September 24, 2009, Council approved contracting with artist Susan Harbage Page of Chapel Hill, NC to develop art enhancements.
Discussion: The artist has developed a concept to work within the existing prefabricated shelter style that has been identified for installation. The use of this shelter offers a cost-effective approach to integrated public art and can bring a distinctive and attractive appearance to the C-Tran system. The current structure’s classic hip-roof style has a home town look and feel, and the incorporation of solar lighting offers long-term cost savings, location flexibility, and safety feature.
The shelter’s back windscreen is made up of six vertical panels of safety glass. The artist design concept is to enhance these glass panels with etchings. The panels’ transparency and safety requirements can be maintained with the etching enhancements. Cost efficiency and use of existing shelter design were overriding parameters for the project’s development for the shelter series. Working within the windscreen of the shelter design offers a cost-efficient solution to incorporate public art.
The artist has further developed the concept to incorporate patterns from wallpaper designs from historic buildings in Cary as unifying elements for each route. A different wallpaper pattern would create the design for each proposed bus shelter glass windscreen. Additionally, the artist proposes adding color to the bench that relates to the C-Tran bus color.
The shelter benches are actually attached to the shelter. They are aluminum and can be painted at the factory to coordinate with Cary’s C-Tran bus color. The introduction of wallpaper designs etched into windscreens allows each route to have its own distinctive appearance.
The artist’s design concept was developed from her research of Cary. During Ms. Page’s residency, she learned about the project and Cary’s history by meeting with Town staff, interviewing Cary seniors, touring historic buildings, visiting the History Museum at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center and meeting with Cary historian Peggy Van Scoyoc. Ms. Page also spent time riding the C-Tran system and talking with passengers about their experiences.
The current shelter’s hip-roof style reminded her of a house roof, and making the shelter’s interior experience more homelike fit with the vertical glass panels which are almost exactly the dimension of wallpaper. Several of the archival photos of the Page-Walker prior to its renovation inspired the theme for the glass panels. If Council approves the concept recommendation, the artist plans to revisit several historical sights to research additional wall coverings.
Other concepts that Ms. Page considered after listening to citizens and doing her research were Cary’s weather patterns over the years shown in a graph form and silhouettes of historic barns. Multiple concepts could be researched and developed for the windscreens. Ms. Page felt that the patterns that could be taken from historic buildings’ wallpapers fit nicely with the shelters hip-roof style and dimension of the safety glass panels.
The design concept is also a visual experience for the vehicular driver. The simple approach is attractive but not distracting to drivers. The transparent glass with etched pattern will provide a visible and safe environment for passengers waiting for the bus. Solar-powered lighting will allow for flexibility in shelter locations and be more environmentally friendly.
The Public Art Master Plan places priority on integrated art approaches. The Master Plan specifically identifies “Connectivity” Transportation, unique functional infrastructure, and neighborhoods as important focus areas for public art. This project offers a unique opportunity to address those goals and to further enhance
C-Tran.
This project will directly impact the aesthetics and high design standards of Cary’s transit system while also addressing accessibility, comfort and security. Additionally, a decal located on the adjoining glass panel could explain the pattern’s history and building reference thus giving waiting passengers the opportunity to learn more about Cary’s unique history.
Concept Review Process: Broad goals for the project guided the concept development and included:
Create a sense of place
Uniquely Cary, timeless
Provide continuity between C-Tran bus routes
Welcoming, family friendly
Fun and inviting
Sensitive to the needs of the disabled
Respect inherent climate, maintenance, and structural considerations for materials
At its December meeting, the Public Art Advisory Board reviewed Ms. Page’s design concept and responded that it was an aesthetically and broadly pleasing concept. The Board voted unanimously to recommend the concept to Council for Ms. Page to continue designing the unifying series of bus shelters for the Town of Cary.
Fiscal Impact: $30,000 was appropriated in FY 2009 to the PR1137 – Public Art Bus Shelters project for an artist to design a unifying series for six fixed routes and prototype shelter.
The additional cost of the enhancement per shelter is $2,000 to $2,500. The artist’s contract includes the cost to complete one bus shelter project. The budget for the bus shelters is $10,000 per unit. With the prefabricated shelter purchase, installation, as well as the enhanced public art feature, the future shelters remain within the budgeted $10,000 per shelter.
Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends the following:
1. Approval of public art concept to incorporate art in the C-Tran bus shelters by enhancing the glass windscreens with etchings.
2. Approval to introduce patterns taken from wallpaper designs from historic buildings as the basis for different etchings for each shelter.
3. Approval to introduce color for the shelter benches coordinating with the blue C-Tran bus color.
4. Approval to incorporate the art enhancement as a design standard for the bus shelters to be included in future installations.
