Public Art Committee

Durham Cultural Advisory Board’s PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE Meeting, December 21, 2016 8:30 a.m. at Durham Arts Council Members Present: Jennie Barbour X Kathy Bartlett X Margaret DeMott X Dan Ellison X Chris Ogden (Chair) Nola Paterni X Charlene Reiss Julie Rhodes X Katie Seiz X Sarah Serventi Gail Williams OEWD: Brian Smith General Services: Dave Delcambre Guests: Durham Innovation District developers and architects: Timothy Summerville, Project Engineer, Stewart Engineering; George Stanziale, President, Stewart Engineering; Sanjeev Patel, Design Director, Duda|Paine Architects; Jessica Brock, Longfellow Real Estate Partners; Matt McConnell, Artist The meeting was called to order by Chris Ogden at 8:30 a.m. The minutes from the November meeting were reviewed. Dan Ellison moved that the minutes be accepted as presented, and Sarah Serventi seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Chris updated the Committee on discussions about the Durham-Herald Alcoves Project with Self Help, around installing art banners on the brick façade on the Durham Herald Building project along West Chapel Hill Street. Self Help said they need additional information before they can discuss in detail...  Are the banners intended to be temporary?  It is possible this will require a certificate of appropriateness, as the building is a local landmark (even the part that is non-historic).  What will the banners say or depict?  The size of each?  Where you would place them?  How you would attach them? Chris reported that the Durham History Hub expressed interest in collaborating on content for the banners. Dan shared that his years of experience on the Historic December 21, 2016 Durham Public Art Committee Minutes page 1 of 6 Preservation Commission led him to believe that approval for banners should be straightforward and attainable. Dan volunteered to lead the project and will work with Chris to bring it to fruition. Next our guests developing the Southern Gateway project, the first buildings in the 15-acre Durham Innovation District, presented their project plans for review by our Committee. They requested Committee approval to receive development variance for additional building height in exchange for providing public art at the site, under the City/County Planning Departments’ provisions. Their site plan consists of 2 office buildings and a parking garage; all three of which require the public art provision for additional height. They are also utilizing an additional height provision by providing a public plaza that links all three buildings together. Architect Sanjeev Patel led the presentation, introducing the guests, and explaining the location of the Southern Gateway project. Sanjeev showed the Committee the architectural renderings for the project and discussed the following:  Logistics for the Durham Innovation District: including the future city-scape and aerial view of downtown Durham, including the first phase of the design (Southern Gateway @ Morris and Roney Streets). Southern Gateway will include 2 buildings totaling 350,000 square feet of space, with workspace, ground-level retail, and a parking deck. Kathy asked the developers about the timing of the Southern Gateway and the developers informed the Committee of the scheduled completion in spring of 2018. The Committee was informed that the complete Durham Innovation District has a 7 to 10 year time line for implementation overall.  Building Design: The façade of the buildings will be a terracotta brick to bridge the modern design of the building with the historical context of the tobacco warehouses and the history of Durham.  Courtyard Space: The two new buildings will be joined by a multi-use/ public space courtyard. George Stanziale from Stewart informed the Committee of the very public friendly space, including lighting for benches, electrical outlets, and programmable, flush-to-ground fountains allowing the courtyard varied uses.  Art: Sanjeev and Matt McConnell presented the Committee with the renderings for the Art installation planned to cover the stairway wall of the parking deck, and thus be the focal point of the courtyard, as viewed from Corporation Street. Matt McConnell discussed in detail the design process for his art installation. The Committee was pleased to hear that the goal was to make the courtyard space contiguous with the outside, and Matt detailed the design process and referenced Magritte’s iconic cloud and perspective surrealist imagery. The goal of the project is to connect the artistic clouds literally and figuratively with this new tech space. The installation will invite the pedestrians to experience the art from the ground and through various perspectives within the stairwell. The Committee was pleased to hear December 21, 2016 Durham Public Art Committee Minutes page 2 of 6 about all the design details, and thought that the development team and artist had engaged in very through discovery and implementation process to insure the art shall interact with and serve the public using the courtyard. Dan inquired about the size of the screen and art installation. Matt informed the Committee of the approximate 20’x60’ tall structure of aluminum tubing backed by the perforated metal screen. Kathy and Margaret inquired about the maintenance of the art installation, and Matt informed the Committee of his choice to use vertical tubing instead of horizontal to encourage less bird activity. The team also informed the Committee of their work with a professional lighting team to ensure no light pollution, and appropriate timing of the lighting to allow for safety and optimal viewing of the art installation throughout the day and evening. The team also reassured the Committee that the developer was including the maintenance and lighting fees in the design of the building with appropriate power, and infrastructure needed to secure and maintain the installation. The materials used in the installation lend themselves to longevity and are sealed with an auto finish urethane for durability. They assured the Committee that the piece will not lend itself to climbing. Chris asked about including signage for the art, via a plaque indicating the artwork title, date, artist name, and an internet link to the city’s public art website that Stacey Poston is working on (perhaps via a Neo code). Matt and the team said they will be happy to do so. Dan asked the team to include an audio description of the piece to be used for the audio guide to Durham art for the visually impaired. Discussion continued about any heat buildup or wind vortex concerns, and were assured there should not be any. While a wind study has not yet been performed, the space will be self-shading from high sun and should not create any issues. Chris asked about any potential Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) concerns. The developers replied they are applying for a special use permit. They are also open to collaborating with the Committee, Durham Area Designers, et al to lobby to change the UDO and enact processes (perhaps via a quasi-judicial commission) to allow more interesting and current street objects such as benches, trash cans, bike racks, lights, etc. After very involved further conversation, the Committee moved to accept the art installation to meet the city’s variance. Dan Ellison motioned, Charlene Reiss seconded, to accept the Matt McConnell artwork for the parking deck stairway façade at the Durham Innovation District's “Southern Gateway” as presented, if they also add public art signage with a link to the City Public Art website, as meeting the criteria for developer variances per the policies of Durham’s Planning Department. The motion passed unanimously. Chris informed the development team that he planned to send the approved motion to Planning the same day, December 21, 2016, to facilitate their timely building permit acquisition. December 21, 2016 Durham Public Art Committee Minutes page 3 of 6 December 21, 2016 Durham Public Art Committee Minutes page 4 of 6 Katie led the Committee in thanking the development team. The Committee concurred, and noted how pleased all were with the thought and detail that went into selection and implementation of the public art for this new project. The guests departed and the Committee moved on to discuss next steps with the (photo) FENCE: Durham project initiated during the November meeting. Chris and Brian updated the Committee on progress in finalizing our pitch to United Photo Industries (UPI). Discussion ensued around the top five locations (out of 50 considered) to install the FENCE. Discussion honed in on the top two locations, which are (not in any particular order): City Hall & Orange Street Mall This area would form a three-sided “U,” starting in the little park by the parking deck at Magnum and East Chapel Hill Street, going South to the end of the parking lot, cutting West across the park to Orange Street, and then continuing North to the start of the parking deck, breaking and the wrapping around the NW parking deck corner (to draw traffic from Chapel Hill Street, the Post Office, etc.). Orange street has an existing stone “sitting” wall, behind which (between it and the parking lot) the fence would be erected to allow the bottom of the photos to run parallel to the top of the wall. It would thus still allow folks to sit on the wall. This location could have terrific political optics and visibility (being across from City Hall) with the City manager, City employees, City Council, citizens, and press. It would also jump start placemaking opportunities along Orange Street, possibly including movable furniture, games, etc. The group concurred this location would highlight public art and attract both pedestrians and also city representatives to see public art in action due to the close proximity of City Hall and the Post Office. Brian informed the Committee of options to increase placemaking with tables and games along Orange Street. He also shared that the City might use the area as a pilot to experiment with adding lighting in the surrounding trees. American Tobacco & Blackwell Street Here the FENCE would be in three sections that form roughly a straight line, starting with 86 feet along Fowler Building (across from Durham Bulls entrance), continuing 247 feet under Highway 147 along the columns, and leading 700 feet along the beginning of the American Tobacco Trail, just south of Morehead Avenue (connecting with walkers, joggers, and a potential greenspace “park” area). Most of the projects that occur in the other cities, are located at the beginning of similar “trails.” Atlanta’s is on their Beltline and Santa Fe is on their rails to trails. Thus, both have considerable foot traffic. In addition, Durham’s location has green space at the beginning of the trail that the City owns which could potentially be used as a prototype social gathering/pocket park. A big advantage of this location would be our receiving the considerable support of American Tobacco’s full marketing engine, including access to their 4000 daily employees. And also, the traffic from 10,000 people per Durham Bulls’ home game, of which there are 17 in August, along with potential Bulls co-marketing. The number of non-Durhamites who could potentially be December 21, 2016 Durham Public Art Committee Minutes page 5 of 6 exposure to the FENCE installation due to the proximity of the ball park could be huge. As well, the Committee agreed that this neighborhood was varied socio- economically, and Katie encouraged the group to remember our goal of using art as a community place maker throughout the community. Another plus for this area is that it would also tie into the upcoming SmART Corridor. Brian verified that if we are awarded the FENCE project, the installation will be paid for with OEWD 2017 fiscal year managed funds, and would likely run from August through November. Although we understand that other cities have found that fence rental fees do not substantially change to add another month or two. Dan motioned that the Committee continue to proceed with the pitch to UPI for the FENCE project, with the top two locations being City Hall and American Tobacco. The motion was seconded by Sarah, and passed unanimously with the committee. The Committee thanked Chris for his vast amount of work on this pitch to UPI. Stacey, Brian, Chris and others met with the Durham Central Park executive director and board president to discuss options for the Liberty Art Wall (the new brick wall separating the Liberty Warehouse swimming pool and the North end of the park). Brian informed the Committee of the board’s desire to use a local artist for the wall and the subject matter of the art was in discussion with the board and executive director. Members stressed their desire to ensure local artists are strongly encouraged and considered for any such commission. Kathy requested a future agenda item be a discussion around “What is Local?” and how do we consistently define buckets? (what is included in “The Triangle” – by city such as Pittsboro, Mebane, Apex Holly Springs, Roxboro, Saxpahaw? Not Fuquay Varina?) or by County, such as Durham, Orange, Wake, Chatham? Margaret informed the Committee that the SmART Grant had received 50 entries, and hoped to receive 60ish by the time the RFQ closed. Due to time constraints, the remaining agenda items were bumped until January. The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 a.m. Respectfully submitted by Sarah Serventi. December 21, 2016 Durham Public Art Committee Minutes page 6 of 6