The pedestrian-oriented streetscape of the now-completed Station Sq. redevelopment just lately noticed an additional enhancement of its public realm with important items of public artwork.

Anthem Properties labored with famend native artist Douglas Coupland to create 4 sculptures, unfold out over two areas throughout the redevelopment.

Three sculptures are exterior JJ Bean Espresso on the northwest nook of the intersection of Kingsborough Road and Silver Drive, whereas one sculpture — the tallest with a top of fifty ft — is on the southeast nook of the distinguished intersection of Kingsway and McKay Avenue.

The sculptures are designed to seem like the gemstone-like materials that’s created by way of the buildup and hardening of automotive paint slag, referred to as Fordite.

“Fordite” public artwork sculptures by Douglas Coupland at Station Sq.. (Anthem Properties)

“Fordite” public artwork sculptures by Douglas Coupland at Station Sq.. (Anthem Properties)

“Fordite” public artwork sculptures by Douglas Coupland at Station Sq.. (Anthem Properties)

“Fordite” public artwork sculptures by Douglas Coupland at Station Sq.. (Anthem Properties)

“Fordite” public artwork sculptures by Douglas Coupland at Station Sq.. (Anthem Properties)

Coupland notes the looks of vibrant stacked gems is an specific nod to Station Sq.’s historic previous of being the positioning of a automobile manufacturing manufacturing unit for the Ford Motor Firm.

The plant opened in 1938 and closed in 1968. The constructing remained on the positioning till 1988, when it was demolished for the multi-phased improvement of the primary iteration of Station Sq. mall, in response to the Metropolis of Burnaby.

Fordite, aptly named after the automobile firm, is the time period mineralogists have given to the hardened paint layers discovered beneath the previous spray-painting cubicles of Ford factories in Michigan. The chunks of layered automotive enamel paint are sometimes as much as 20 cm thick, and so they have knowledgeable consultants what mannequin of automobile the paint was used, and what yr it was sprayed down.

Instance of Fordite gems. (City Relic Design)

Ford Motor Firm automobile manufacturing plant in 1938, positioned the place Station Sq. is in the present day. (Metropolis of Burnaby)

Ford Motor Firm automobile manufacturing plant in 1938, positioned the place Station Sq. is in the present day. (Metropolis of Burnaby)

Ford Motor Firm automobile manufacturing plant in 1938, positioned the place Station Sq. is in the present day. (Metropolis of Burnaby)

Ford Motor Firm automobile manufacturing plant in 1938, positioned the place Station Sq. is in the present day. (Vancouver Public Library Archives)

“These colored paint layers are usually not not like the layers of the Grand Canyon and, as with most sedimentary types, could be referred to as minerals, on this case, an ‘anthropogenic,’ or man-made mineral. Fordite chunks, when damaged and polished, change into terribly stunning treasured stones and are extremely wanted within the gemological world,” said Coupland.

“So, for the Station Sq. website, I created stacks of polished Fordite gems which are intentionally daring to remind individuals in a jubilant approach that we as soon as, not even way back, lived in a world the place automobile colors had been used as they nonetheless are in vogue, to hasten a car’s shortened lifespan and to construct expectation for newer and extra otherwise colored vehicles.”

After buying Station Sq. in 2004, Anthem Properties launched into a years-long planning course of for the mall’s redevelopment right into a mixed-use, high-density district that types part of the Metropolis of Burnaby’s eventual Metrotown Downtown Plan. Beedie can be a accomplice within the improvement.

The unique Station Sq. mall earlier than redevelopment in 2011:

The unique Station Sq. in Burnaby’s Metrotown in 2011. (Google Maps)

The Station Sq. redevelopment beneath building in late 2020/2021:

The brand new Station Sq. redevelopment in Burnaby’s Metrotown beneath building in December 2020. (Google Maps)

Station Sq. in October 2021. (Kenneth Chan/Day by day Hive)

Station Sq. in October 2021. (Kenneth Chan/Day by day Hive)

After a decade of building, the brand new Station Sq. formally reached completion in August 2022. There are 5 towers with about 1,800 properties, plus 450,000 sq ft of retail and workplace area within the podiums and at road stage, successfully activating the pedestrian-oriented public areas. The key tenants embody Value Good Meals, representing the return of the earlier Save-On-Meals by way of its sister model, in addition to WeWork, Cactus Membership, and Earls eating places.

The redevelopment was designed by native agency Chris Dikeakos Architects and New York-based Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates.

The earlier iteration of Station Sq. was comprised of low-storey buildings, with many of the 12-acre footprint used as a parkade. It was anchored by Save-On-Meals, which is infamously remembered for the collapse of its roof inside minutes of the grand opening in 1988. The collapse of a 6,400 sq ft part of the roof brought about 20 vehicles to come back crashing down into the shop. There have been no fatalities, however 21 individuals suffered accidents.

The primary iteration of Metropolis at Metrotown mall opened in 1986, including to the realm’s current Sears Canada division retailer and a grocery store. SkyTrain Metrotown Station opened within the earlier yr in 1985, as a part of the Expo Line’s unique phase between Waterfront and New Westminster stations in time for Expo ’86.

Burnaby’s Metrotown space in 1985:

The Metrotown space of Burnaby in 1985. The primary iteration of Metropolis at Metrotown mall opened the next yr in 1986, and Station Sq.’s first section opened later in 1988. (Metropolis of Burnaby)

Burnaby’s Metrotown space in 1985:

The Metrotown space of Burnaby in 2016. (Metropolis of Burnaby)