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Approval of a Public Art Concept in Conjunction with a Development Project at 5800 Bristol Pkwy (C3).
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Contact Person/Dept: B. Christine Byers/City Manager’s Office
Phone Number: (310) 253-6003
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Public Notification: Meetings and Agendas - Cultural Affairs Commission (Sent via E-Mail on 02/12/16); Property Owners, Occupants, and Businesses within 500’ Radius (to End of Block) (Sent via US Mail on 02/02/16).
Department Approval: Sol Blumenfeld, Director of Community Development
(02/11/16)
Martin R. Cole, Assistant City Manager/City Clerk (02/11/16)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Cultural Affairs Commission (“CAC”) approve the proposed art concept titled, Cirrostratus, by Refik Anadol as fulfilling the City’s Art in Public Places Program (“APPP”) requirement for the development project at 5800 Bristol Pkwy. (C3).
BACKGROUND
IDS Real Estate Group is the developer (“Applicant”) of the property at 5800 Bristol Pkwy. (formerly 700 Corporate Pointe), located at the NE corner of the intersection of Hannum Ave. and Bristol Pkwy. The project, referred to as “C3”, is comprised of a 7-story creative office building with an adjacent multi-story parking structure (<http://www.culvercitycreative.com/>). Pursuant to Culver City Municipal Code (“CCMC”) Section 15.06.120, new commercial development projects with a building valuation of $500,000 or more and remodeling projects with a building valuation of $250,000 or more are subject to the City’s Art in Public Places Program (“APPP”) requirement. The total estimated Building Permit valuation for the office building (core & shell) and the parking structure is $47 million, which translates into a minimum 1% APPP allocation of $470,000. (The responsibility for the buildout of the office interiors will be borne by the tenants. Any tenant Building Permit valuations that trigger the City’s APPP requirement will be fulfilled separately via in-lieu payments to the Cultural Trust Fund prior to issuance of those permits.)
The Applicant has chosen to fulfill the APPP requirement by commissioning an original, site-specific artwork by a qualified artist whose selection was managed by Michelle Isenberg of Isenberg & Associates, Inc. (“Art Consultant”). The artist selection process included development of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) which was sent to thirteen professional visual artists. Three artists were interviewed, and of those, Refik Anadol, a Los Angeles-based media artist who also teaches at UCLA, was selected in October 2015. More information on Mr. Anadol, including past work, is available at <http://www.refikanadol.com/>.
Cirrostratus is a three-dimensional artwork designed by Mr. Adadol for installation across the west and south facing exterior facades of the new parking structure at the C3 site. The design is inspired by high-level clouds of the same name and the multi-colored prismatic effects of light reflection and refraction that they display. The installation will comprise approximately 300-400 vertical blades made of a polycarbonate and/or acrylic with a dichroic film incorporated into each blade. The individual blades will measure approximately 12” wide x 4’ - 6’ long x ½” - 1” thick and will be installed vertically and perpendicular to the façade using powder coated metal brackets. The result will be an ever-changing canvas of colored light refraction and shadow across the parking structure as the sunlight moves across the site. (NOTE: 300-400 blades is the estimate as provided by the artist in mid-January. This number is subject to change depending on installation costs which have yet to be determined.)
The budget for the entire art commission is $470,000 of which $75,000 is allocated for the artist’s design fee, the architect’s fees, and structural engineering costs. Fabrication and installation are budgeted at $300,000. The fee for the Art Consultant is within the amount prescribed in Section 15.06.130 of the CCMC. The scheduled installation date for the artwork is August 2017.
The firm Arktura (<http://arktura.com/>), comprised of an experienced team of architectural, design, and engineering professionals, will oversee fabrication of the artwork. At this juncture, the design is considered conceptual and, while certain high quality materials have been identified as options for use in fabricating the individual custom-designed blades, the exact material specifications, including warranties, of the final product are yet to be determined. Arktura will continue to work with the artist, material manufacturers, and the developer to design and fabricate an artwork that conforms with the concept as presented to the CAC and that is also durable and low maintenance. Staff, and if necessary, the CAC Public Art Subcommittee, will continue to coordinate with the artist and design team to ensure that the final product meets City guidelines, including those of the Planning, Building Safety and Fire Prevention Divisions.
The current proposed design includes a coating on each blade that will help reduce dirt buildup. This, together with the fact that each blade will be attached vertically to the parking structure’s façade, will result in minimum routine maintenance. In most instances, it is anticipated that rain will be sufficient to remove any accumulated particulate matter and can be supplemented with periodic light washing if necessary. The intent is to attach each blade to the parking structure façade in such a manner so as to minimize direct contact by the public. This may result in avoiding installation at the ground level or within close proximity to openings on the upper floors of the structure.
The artwork will be visible 24 hours/day, seven days per week to both pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
On January 15, 2016, the CAC Public Art subcommittee (Commissioners Small and Williams) met with the developer’s representative, the art consultant, artist, fabricator and staff to review a draft of the Cirrostratus art concept. The CAC Public Art subcommittee supported the concept as presented.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The cost for design, fabrication and installation for this project is borne entirely by the Applicant. The responsibility and cost for future maintenance and restoration of the artwork is the responsibility of the property owner pursuant to Section 15.06.150 of the CCMC.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Art Plan for Cirrostratus, including narrative description, color renderings of the artwork, project budget, material specifications and artist resume.
RECOMMENDED MOTION(S)
That the Cultural Affairs Commission:
Approve the art concept titled, Cirrostratus, by Refik Anadol as fulfilling the City’s Art in Public Places Program (“APPP”) requirement for the development project at 5800 Bristol Pkwy. (C3).