Part II: Airway Construction Review Fall 2014
A few weeks ago I visited El Paso to review the progress on Airway, all elements. This is my first review, where all of the turbines and sculptures were installed. I decided to investigate how the turbines interact with the surrounding area, from various vantage points. The image below is taken from an elevated parking lot, near Gateway Boulevard West. From here, mountain and sky views become the backdrop to the infrastructure. It is a busy site and the busiest intersection in El Paso. The turbines appear grand, complementing the site, promoting a gateway experience along I-10.
Looking west, from an elevated parking lot overlooking I-10.
The turbines form an impressive landmark along I-10, creating a gateway experience for drivers.
The turbines stand tall against the backdrop of the Staybridge Suites, one of the new hotels on Gateway Boulevard East.
The sculptural forms of the turbine sculptures create a bold new look for the redeveloping neighborhood, which is characterized by many new hotels, commercial venues and remnants of industry. This is a neighborhood that is evolving. The renovation at Airway supports this renewal.
A view from I-10, looking west.
The construction process at Airway has been fast paced, proceeding according to plan. Our contractor, Jordan Foster, has met and exceeded our expectations, providing excellent service and an excellent product that is on target with our goals, timeline and budget. The work is well managed and well executed, with attention to detail. Over the past year-and-a-half it has been rewarding to review their work and view their progress. Now, the project is nearly completed.
A busy day on site, November 2014.
In the foreground, a view of the arched planters with windswept patterning.
Painted column wraps rotate to create an arc and implied movement.
An overview of the site from the fourth floor of the Staybridge Suites.
A closeup view of the turbines and sculptures set against a cloudy sky.
The scale of the work is dramatized by the presence of a worker.
The median artwork is created in collaboration with “Mike,” Anastacio Rivera.
The El Paso Public Art Program hosts a mentoring program for their arts community. Local artists compete to join a roster for upcoming public projects, working with established artists with track records in Public Art. This program helps El Paso artists to bridge their studio art skills with the parameters of Public Art and public process. During my five years of working in El Paso, I have mentored three local artists. All have benefited from their experiences and they have advanced their careers. Anastacio Rivera is my intern for Airway. He created the pattern work for the median sculpture. To create the artwork, we required Anastacio to learn several computer programs, SketchUp and Illustrator, encouraging him to work more efficiently, electronically, helping him and our team to implement his work into the contract documents for construction. His work has turned out extremely well.
Team Credits:
Alexandr Polzin
Client:
These look like a delightful addition .
Hi, Roger, Thanks for your comment. Yes, Airway is greatly improved with the renovation, promoting landscape and aesthetics. I’ll post the final images soon. Perhaps I will add a “before” image to show the difference between before and now. Best to you in 2015!
Thanks again!