Client: Kearny Real Estate
Location: San Diego, CA, United States
Completion date: 2014
Artwork budget: $25,000
Project Team
Architect
Gensler
Gensler
Landscape Architect
Rocio Lastras de Gertler
LdG Landscape Architects
Artist
Maxx Moses
Client
Jeff Givens
Kearny Real Estate
Overview
The 530 B Sky Terrace project team transformed a once-barren, space into an outdoor urban oasis. The outdoor area now provides choices, pockets where people can have meetings and events while enjoying the vibrant mural, “Inceptions Reflection,” by local artist, Maxx Moses. The space is a sign of something revolutionary happening in downtown San Diego, an area once fit only for buttoned-down bankers.
Gensler, along with building owner Kearny Real Estate and LDG Landscape Architects, transformed the 16,000sf, 3rd floor, podium rooftop space and the adjacent parking structure’s barren 31’ x 106’ concrete wall into a lush downtown amenity.
Goals
The project team’s goals for the artwork for the 530 B Sky Terrace were to reflect the unique character of the proposed new wood deck, walking surfaces, extensive green roof areas, raised planters, and vibrant plant palette, to come to together to create a fresh and rich outdoor environment for the San Diego community. The main use of the roof terrace was intended for the office building tenants, but wanted the mural to impress and engage the city as it would be visible to the public from 5th Ave and neighboring properties.
The project team knew the artwork needed to be of high aesthetic quality, timeless and exciting. It also needed to be designed to withstand the exterior climate for a period of twenty years. The mural was viewed as an opportunity for the project to be more rooted in the local community while providing a lasting impression on San Diego.
Process
Gensler, collaborated closely with Kearny Real Estate and LDG Landscape Architects throughout the entire project to turn this roof terrace into the lush downtown amenity that attracts the tenants of the building and nearby neighbors. The team crafted and sent out a public Call for Artist Request for Qualifications to local artists to create the unique art element.
With many submissions and 6 interviews, Maxx Moses was selected for the job. The spray-painted mural, titled “Inception’s Reflections”, was designed to “uplift, enliven and inspire” those who live and work downtown. The artist needed to work closely with the contractor in coordinating times and the logistics of performing the work.
Additional Information
Gensler San Diego started an initiative, Local Craft, which has enabled us to meet and interact with local artists and makers. The Local Craft initiative was conceived with the purpose of bringing artists and makers together to spark ideas in our field of design, to strengthen our local presence in our neighborhoods and communities and to infuse our project work with local Art & Craft. The 530B Sky Terrace is one of many success stories of the Local Craft initiative.