My favourite clients are the ones who are up for doing things differently! When I pitched to New Westminster to let a group of 6-9 year-olds lead a design team for a new Pump Station, I was thrilled when they said, "Go for it."
The Pump Station showcases our ability to create exciting and boundary-pushing designs through engagement, seamlessly incorporating the complexities of infrastructure and the diverse stakeholders involved in large-scale projects. This large-scale piece of artwork and architecture transforms a previously neglected site into a unique local landmark.
New Westminster, British Columbia saw the new pump station as an opportunity for artistic expression. I was brought onto the design team to lead the art portion of the project and engage the local community. Together, we devised a project where a group of 6-9 year-olds led the team through the design process.
I facilitated multiple workshops, gathering ideas from the children, which I then interpreted and fed back to the architect, landscape architect, and engineers. The end result is a unique and fun pump station that uses gargoyles to tell a story of a world where order meets chaos. Construction is set to begin next year.
