Projects in Progress
The City of Thornton's Public Art Program has many projects in various phases of planning, design, construction and completion. Most projects span two years. One year is dedicated to review, design, and approval; the second year is dedicated to engineering, fabrication, and installation. Some projects require more time due to design, weather, availability of materials or artists to be onsite. COVID-19 has also had an impact.
Below are new projects that have been approved by Thornton City Council and are currently in the fabrication or installation phase. Maintenance/restoration projects may also be listed below. Please refer to the links on the right for more information on our commissioning process and how you can volunteer to be on a review panel to help the city bring more unique and engaging public art to all areas of Thornton.
Active Adult Center Project
The proposed design will be two, large floral sculptures featuring dichroic glass and lighting elements. The piece is meant to touch on nature, science, and technology. The work will be created by Skunk Control, under the direction of Nick Athanasiou, and installed outside the main entrance to the Active Adult Center at East 112th Avenue and Colorado Blvd. The Australian group will be the first international artists commissioned by the city of Thornton.
Anticipated completion: 2023
East 136th Avenue Median Project
This piece will be a carbon fiber and ABS structure that will be one the largest 3-D printed sculptures in the United States. The work will be created by designer, Volkan Alkanoglu, founder of Volkan Alkanoglu | DESIGN LLC in Portland, Oregon. The sculpture will be installed off of I-25 in the center of the East 136th Avenue median.
Click here for the most recent media release about the piece.
Anticipated completion: 2023
Margaret Carpenter Recreation Center: Atrium Project
The proposed piece will be made of stainless steel and feature lighting elements, acrylic panels, and Swarovski Crystal veils. The piece will be created by Seth Palmiter, founder of Motivated Metal in Rockport, Maine and will be installed in the atrium of the main lobby at the Margaret Carpenter Recreation Center located at East 111th Avenue and Colorado Blvd.
Anticipated completion: 2023
Margaret Carpenter Recreation Center: Peace Wall Reimagined Project
The proposed design will touch on the spirit of the original 2003 Peace Wall Project, while also bringing the space into a more contemporary setting. The new piece will be laser-cut, stainless steel panels that will include figurative and text-based elements. The work will be created by Kemba Opio, creator of Kno Design in North Austin, Texas, and installed east of the Margaret Carpenter Recreation Center parking lot at East 111th Avenue and Colorado Blvd.
Click here for the council recommendation report (slides 35-68).
Anticipated completion: 2023
RTD Transit Station: Original Thornton/East 88th Avenue Project
The 15-foot powder-coated steel sculpture entitled "Bloom" was created by artist, CJ Rench, owner of CJ Rench Design Studio in Hood River, Oregon. The design features multi-colored acrylic inserts meant to promote a sense of discovery and timelessness to encourage repeated viewing. The work will be installed in the southwest bus loop.
Anticipated completion: 2023
RTD Transit Station: Thornton Crossroads/East 104th Avenue Project
The sculpture entitled, "Urban Trees," was created CJ Rench, owner of CJ Rench Design Studio in Hood River, Oregon. The design features acrylic leaves framed in stainless steel that cast colorful shadows on the sidewalk below. The work will be installed on the west retaining wall next to the pedestrian underpass.
Anticipated completion: 2023
Sky Park Project
The proposed piece will be a 5-foot by 6-foot cube structure made of mirror-plated aluminum. The work will be created by Pneuhaus Studio from Rumford, RI, and installed in the new Sky Park located at West 88th Avenue and Santa Fe Drive.
Click here for the council recommendation report (slides 24-75).
Anticipated Completion: 2023
Trail Winds Recreation Center Project
The proposed design will be three aluminum structures featuring geological elements, a colorful palette, and dynamic lighting elements. The work will be created by Luke Crawley and Quincy Owens, owners of Owens + Crawley LLC in Indianapolis, IN, and installed in the roundabout at the main entrance to the Trail Winds Recreation Center at East 136th Avenue and Holly Street.
Anticipated completion: 2023