HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-2021-004 - Doon Pioneer Park Community Centre Public ArtREPORT TO: Committee of the Whole
DATE OF MEETING: January 25, 2021
SUBMITTED BY: Emily Robson,Manager, Arts & Creative Industries,519-741-2200 ext.
7084
PREPARED BY: Karoline Varin, Public Programs Administrator,Arts & Creative
Industries, 519-741-2200ext.7912
WARD (S) INVOLVED: 4
DATE OF REPORT:December 16, 2020
REPORT NO.: DSD-21-004
SUBJECT: Doon Pioneer Park Community CentrePublic Art
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RECOMMENDATION: That the commission and installationof artwork at DoonPioneer
Park Community Centre, titled “Outdoor Community”, be approved; and further,
That the Mayor and Clerk be authorizedto execute an agreement, satisfactory to the
City Solicitor, with Bennet Oh, Jinsu Park and Ethan Schwartz(OPS Design Studio),
outlining the obligations of the community centre public art commission.
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:
The purpose of this report is to request authorizationto enter into a legal agreement with
the artist team to execute a public art commissionat DoonPioneer Park Community Centre
The financial implications: this public art project is funded at the $29,000 level in accordance
with Public Art Policy I-816. $26,500 is provided for the commissioned artwork. The
remainder of $2500 from these funds will be allocated towards the estimated cost of
administration, installation, and signage with an additional $2500 allocation from the public
art capital account.
Community engagement included feedback from community centre staff and area residents,
a call for proposals, a juried selection process, consultations with city staff from Parks and
Cemeteries (Design and Development), the Grand River Accessibility Committee and MTE
Consultants Inc. (a multidisciplinary engineering firm).
This report supports the deliveryof core services.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Kitchener’s public art program installs site-specific works throughout the city. These
art works represent a wide variety of styles and materials, with a preference for innovation,
responsiveness to the site, low-maintenance and durability. Public art is usually created in
conjunction with new major construction or renovation of facilities such as libraries, community
centres, fire stations, parking garages, and other city-owned buildings to which the public has
access. The goal of the public art policy is to contribute to the City’s cultural identity and its
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994for assistance.
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strategic priorities. Some of the intended benefits is a better quality of life, increased social
cohesion, good urban design, broad community involvement and public access to the arts.
TheDoon Pioneer Park Community Centreproject is eligible for public art through the City of
Kitchener’s public art/percent for art program, guided by Public Art Policy I-816. Through this
mechanism, 1% of the construction cost is allocated for the acquisition of public art. In 2019-
2020, the community centre underwent arenovation and expansion of its indoor and outdoor
spaces. The renovation allowed for the creation of an outdoor grassy area, divided by a sidewalk
into two sectionslocated at the front of the building. The proposed public art installation would
be located onone of these grassy sections. One of the key priorities for the renovation wasto
accommodate a bigger space for the community to gather with friends and neighbours.The
renovation included the addition of several additional meeting and programming spaces, a
second large gymnasium, a spacious lobby and seating areaand a new water splash pad in
front of the building. The centre is truly becoming the hub of community activity in the Doon
area.
REPORT:
Competition
Through discussion with community centre staff about community aspirationsforthe new
outdoor space,it wasidentifiedthatthe artwork should: offer neighbours theopportunity to
gatherto enjoy various activities; and create an inviting, comfortable and welcoming space for
visitors to make their own. Anticipated uses include playing on the splash pad, readingbooks
from the library, enjoying a coffee with neighbours.As a result, project stakeholders identified a
need for creative outdoor seating thatcombines functionality and sculptural aesthetic that would
visually complement the new façade of the buildingand support the identified needs.
A one-stage public art competition was announced in June 2019.Nine applicants were
considered by the jury and one selected in December 2019. Jury members wereartist and Public
Art Working Group member, Sumaira Tazeen,artists Ernest Daetwyler and Michelle Purchase,
project partners Natascha Voll and Brigid Loveday, Councillor Christine Michaud, and citizens
at large Jean Haalboom and Yvonne Fernandes from the Doon Pioneer Park Community
Association. The jury selected the proposal “Outdoor Community” (Appendix “A”) by Bennet Oh,
Jinsu Park and Ethan Schwartz,as the winning entry. Following the jury process, Arts and
Creative Industries consulted with city staff and the Grand River Accessibility Committee, to
clarify questions raised by the jury concerning materials and accessibility. In addition, site visits
were required by the artist team to finalize the design. This process wassignificantly delayed by
the pandemic. The jury’s selection was supported in a motion by the Public Art Working Group
at its meeting on December 14, 2020,followed by an endorsement by the Arts and Culture
Advisory Committee on January 19, 2021.
Winning Proposal
The selected artist team - Bennett Oh, Jinsu Park and Ethan Schwartz – are recent graduates
of the University of Waterloo School of Architecture who have been collaborating in various
projects together as OPS Design Studio. The team delivers competitions and design build
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projects from conceptualization to construction. Theirmultidisciplinary interests, and
appreciation for craft, composition and detail make themdistinct designers in the field.
The team designed a benchforone of the grassy areas in front of the centre. The bench follows
a natural undulating path that creates smaller interconnected seating areas. Visitors can sit while
supervisingtheir children playing in the splash pador enjoy a quiet moment of rest.Conversely,
the bench becomespremade seating for coordinated activitiesfacing inwards when there are
group events. Having neither a front nor back, the bench’s multi-various curvatures lend
themselves to creative interpretations.The proposed bench fulfills accessibility requirements of
height and width, with armrests added for extra support. Sectionsof the bench are also located
closer to the concrete surround to accommodate users with mobility challenges.
The juryconcluded that the dynamic design of the bench will resonate with the community that
uses the facilityand offers both opportunities forsocial interaction and semi-private reflection.
Further, the juryappreciated the use of natural materials, enhancing the grounding experience
offered by the bench. The jury also observed that the artwork’saesthetic compliment other
elements of the site, in particular,by enhancing some of the splashpad’ssteel sculptural fixtures.
Location
The Doon Pioneer Park Community centre is inthe southwest corner of the city at 150 Pioneer
Park Drive.The centre is a neighbourhood hub which welcomes more than 20,000 residents to
partake of its amenities. A local branch of the Kitchener Public Library is located within the
building.
The outdoor benchwill be located on the property’s “front lawn”, nestled between the building
and the new splash pad. Project stakeholders imagine visitors using the installation as part of
the space: a rest area to compliment the use of the splash padand avenue to extend the centre’s
programming through outdoor programs, concerts, and much more.
Installation
The artwork will be installed when outdoor conditions are appropriate in the spring/early summer
of 2021. An alternative installation time isfall 2021.
The city will be responsible for installation, working with the artist team on exact placement.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
The recommendation of this report supports the achievement of the city’s strategic vision through
the delivery of core service.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
This public art project is funded at the $29,000 level in accordance with Public Art Policy I-816.
$26,500 is provided for the commissioned artwork. The remainder of $2500 from thesefunds
will be allocated towardsthe estimated cost of administration, installation, and signage with an
additional $2500 allocation from the public art capital account.
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM
-Advertised, public call for proposals;
-This report has been posted to the City’s website with the agenda in advance of the
council / committee meeting;
-Community residents provided feedback on the use of the site to community centre staff,
which was included in the call for proposals;
CONSULT
-Furthermore,ArtsandCreativeIndustriesstaffconsultedwithcitystafffromParksand
Cemeteries(DesignandDevelopment),theGrandRiver Accessibility Committeeand
MTEConsultants Inc. (a multidisciplinaryengineeringfirm)regardingtheinstallation,
materials,durability,construction,maintenanceandaccessibilityofthepublicartwork;
COLLABORATE
-Public Art Working Group monitors the public art program, including providing input on
the competition, feedback on the call for submissions, and siting;
ENTRUST
-A jury of artists and community members selected the successful applicantteamby
consensus.
APPROVEDBY: Justin Readman, General Manager, DSD
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A
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APPENDIX “A”
D
oon Pioneer Park Community Centre Public
Art/OUTDOOR COMMUNITY
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2020.12.26
Kitchener, ON
FINAL DESIGN FOR APPROVAL
DPP COMMUNITY CENTRE SCULPTURAL BENCH
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DECEMBER 26, 2020
ETHAN SCHWARTZ
Currently completing his M.Arch at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture with a focus on new eco-friendly building materials. Industry experience had helped him to become
skilled in both handcrafting and digital fabrication at a variety of project scales.
DPP CITY COMMUNITY CENTRE SCULPTURAL BENCH
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JINSU PARK
DESIGN TEAM
Since graduating from University of Waterloo School of Architecture in 2018, Jinsu has been working at KPMB Architects as a Junior Designer. With interests in form, technologies with
traditional craftsmanship.
BENNETT OH
Bennett is an award-winning designer known for his landscape and architectural design. His past experience BIG and OMA, where he engaged in numerous conceptual and built works around
the globe.
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DECEMBER 26, 2020
DPP CITY COMMUNITY CENTRE SCULPTURAL BENCH
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SITE + CONCEPT
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DECEMBER 26, 2020
SITE PHOTOS (AUGUST 2020)
DPP CITY COMMUNITY CENTRE SCULPTURAL BENCH
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DECEMBER 26, 2020
DESIGN PRINCIPLES
DPP CITY COMMUNITY CENTRE SCULPTURAL BENCH
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SITE PLAN
DECEMBER 26, 2020
DPP CITY COMMUNITY CENTRE SCULPTURAL BENCH
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RENDER
DECEMBER 26, 2020
DPP CITY COMMUNITY CENTRE SCULPTURAL BENCH
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RENDERING BY MORETHANVIZ.*
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RENDER
DECEMBER 26, 2020
DPP CITY COMMUNITY CENTRE SCULPTURAL BENCH
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RENDERING BY MORETHANVIZ.*
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DECEMBER 26, 2020
DPP CITY COMMUNITY CENTRE SCULPTURAL BENCH
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RENDERING BY MORETHANVIZ.*
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RENDER
DECEMBER 26, 2020
DPP CITY COMMUNITY CENTRE SCULPTURAL BENCH
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RENDERING BY MORETHANVIZ.*
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