Artists collaborate to create the interpretive pavilion at Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation area in Pleasanton, CA.
The East Bay Regional Parks District (EBRPD) is one of our favorite clients, so when the team at Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation area approached us with fabrication needs for their new outdoor interpretive pavilion, we happily answered the call. With many artisans working together to create something beautiful for the public, this unique educational space exemplifies the benefits of artistic collaboration. Designers, architects, sculpture artists, painters, carpenters, metal and cement workers brought their individual talents to the project, creating an exhibit highlighting the history, topography, and ecology of this treasured recreation area. Our team served as project managers and installers for the final installation, and we learned a lot in the process. We began by working with the design team at EBRPD to strategize a plan for implementing all their interpretive designs. The pavilion architecture, including the canopy and all concrete work, was near completion as we began our talks. We then reached out to our vast network of specialty vendors to find the right budget and aesthetic fit for all the various elements. This included the porcelain enameled interpretive panels, the water jet cut panels, the sculpted animals, and the topographic map. The challenge came in having the original producer leave our team mid project, and in finding some errors in the cut files for the relief work after the initial round of production, but we powered through to get the job done right, and the client was very pleased with the end result. The beautiful architecture of the outdoor learning space was designed by Ware Architecture & Engineering in Oakland, CA. The impressively accurate topographical map was created by Rauda Scale Models in Seattle, WA. The porcelain enameled interpretive panels were fabricated by KVO Industries in Santa Rosa, CA. The water jet artwork was cut by Thomas Swan Sign Company in Richmond, CA and painted by Richmond Metal Painting, and the animal sculptures created by Jon Altemus at Altemus Exhibits. We love the creative industry in which we work, and are proud to be a part of the team. Stop by the park if you are in the area and enjoy the beautiful nature and exhibit for yourself!
