Meet the Artists: Penn Ave. Phase II Streetscape Project

Name: Meet the Artists: Penn Ave. Phase II Streetscape Project
Start: 2024-09-06T18:00:00-04:00
Location: The Irma Freeman Center for Imagination

Schedule

Fri Sep 06 2024 at 06:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

The Irma Freeman Center for Imagination | Pittsburgh, PA

During September's Unblurred/First Fridays event along Penn Ave. in Garfield/Friendship, you'll have the chance to meet and see concepts from artists Marlana Vassar and Atiya Jones related to Phase II of the Penn Avenue Streetscape Project, scheduled to begin in 2025.
(PLEASE NOTE: Time and location subject to change. This listing is based on May's "Meet the Artist" opportunity.)
Shiftworks Community + Public Arts (formerly the Office of Public Art) will be sharing information with community members and collecting feedback for the Pedestrian Spaces Enhancement Project.
Marlana has been tasked with designing concepts for surface treatments and site furnishings for the new bump outs at the four intersections along Penn Avenue at Pacific, Atlantic, Aiken, and Graham, as well as at the raised crosswalk proposed for Penn at Pacific.
Potential enhancements to these sites include:
Paving Treatments: Using stamped or sandblasted/etched concrete to create a unique design or pattern. Marlana is responsible for the design of paving patterns at these locations, with paving installation performed via the general contractor.
Site Furnishings: Marlana may design amenities to be installed at designated bump out locations such as planters, benches/seating, sculptural bike racks, and bollards.
Atiya has been commissioned to work on an artistic tree grates design for the sidewalks.

About Phase II of Penn Avenue Reconstruction:
Led by engineering firm Trans Associates, Phase II of the City of Pittsburgh’s Penn Avenue Reconstruction project is implementing streetscape improvements along Penn Avenue from Evaline Street to Graham Street. Following Phase I (Mathilda Street to Evaline Street), the project will include the construction of new sidewalks, curbs, and roadway. New traffic signals and roadway lighting will be installed, street trees will be planted, and sidewalk bump outs are planned at the intersections for pedestrians safety.
The purpose of this rehabilitation is to enhance the corridor for pedestrian and vehicular travel alike. The improved sidewalks and crosswalks will provide an added component of safety for residents and customers walking along the street, and bump outs constructed at intersections will assist in the calming of traffic and will shorten pedestrian crossing distances. In addition to updating infrastructure, the design of this project is intended to improve the sense of community among the residents in Bloomfield and Garfield, while benefiting businesses by creating an inviting streetscape for pedestrians and customers.