Project Description
The Colby Avenue Arcade connects the City of Everett’s Everpark garage to Colby Avenue in the downtown core of Everett, Washington. The programmatic concept was to turn the nondescript 21’ wide by 110’ deep walkway into an outdoor sculpture garden that could be identified with its intended use and be seen as an extension of the streetscape.
The arcade is defined at the Colby Avenue end by a new 29-foot tall metal entry gateway that has EVERPARK signage at the top. The signage and the gate form provide visual prompts that reinforce the nature of the space as an access point to the garage. The gate is fabricated out of steel I-beams and wire mesh. The mesh is incorporated into the gate to allow wisteria to eventually grow up through the structure, uniting the gate with the landscape.
A new walkway was designed that was lined with alternating areas of landscaping and sculpture display. Concrete plinths allow pieces of art to be featured in well-lit locations. Ornate street lamps similar in style to street lamps along Colby Avenue provide a cognitive link to the public realm. The lamps also augment the sculpture lighting and create a safer evening environment.
The architects designed sculpture pieces as examples of how art would function in the space. One of the pieces was a sail-like structure made of curving stainless steel panels mounted on red steel masts. The piece was seen as such an important element of the design that it was integrated into the project. This sculpture screens an existing blank façade on the north side of the arcade and the ground stainless steel panels reflect light into the arcade augmenting existing lighting.
The project demonstrates the importance of small urban spaces to the vitality of a streetscape and provides an example of a small scale project making a significant impact on a community. The new Everpark arcade is seen by the city as an important element in the revitalization of the downtown core.