Hillsdale Shopping Center

San Mateo, California

OTL Brings Art to Life With One-of-a-Kind Multimedia Show Fountain at Destination Retail Center in San Mateo, California

In 2019, San Mateo, California welcomed the new Hillsdale Shopping Center, a 1.3 million square-foot retail destination developed by Bohannon Development Company. 

Featuring more than 120 lifestyle-oriented shops, eateries, and entertainment options such as a luxury movie theater, fitness club, and upscale bowling and bocce operation, among others, the development caters to residents and visitors within the quaint Northern California town.

A highlight of the development is North Block, a premier mix of entertainment venues, innovative dining, and exciting expanded retail, all surrounding a beautifully landscaped outdoor plaza.  

Before construction on the center began, OTL partnered with landscape architect Lifescapes International and general contractor C.W. Driver to design and construct an 1,871 square-foot show fountain completed in late 2019 that serves as the centerpiece of North Block, an iconic landmark and a dedicated work of art for this new retail, dining, and entertainment hub.

IDEA

Can a fountain also serve as neighborhood art? Absolutely.

The City of San Mateo has an Art in Public Places ordinance, which requires developers of any commercial project valued at $3 million or more to integrate unique art installations into the development’s publicly accessible spaces.

OTL and Lifescapes International worked together to help Bohannan Development Company meet that requirement by making the show fountain into a work of art.

To exceed the developer’s expectations, OTL’s artisans programmed the fountain’s 71 individually controlled nozzles, creating choreography to activate the water in a sophisticated, visually intricate way.

The team also installed state-of-the-art lights and audio to deliver a true concert-quality experience to guests.

Equipped with eight speakers and two amplifiers, the audio system delivers a depth of sound that resonates and elevates the visual experience of the fountain. In addition, 142 separate color-changing LED lights were individually choreographed to provide rich visual texture to the “living” art piece. 

Show customization and control are also state-of-the-art: OTL set up the fountain’s nozzles, lights, and audio equipment to be controlled both by onsite servers and remotely by tablet or cell phone.

What really sets this project apart from others is the rich tapestry of living plants integrated into the fountain basin; once Lifescapes International designed the concept and selected the perfect florae for the project, OTL’s designers worked diligently to ensure the plant material remained dry and separated from the splashing fountain water. The result is an artistic expression of color, texture, and movement that delights crowds from all angles.  

IMPACT

The show fountain at Hillsdale Shopping Center’ North Block outdoor plaza delivers a spectacular fountain light show featuring a musically-choreographed presentation of synchronized lights and musical sounds of the season four times each evening. 

By applying an artistic approach to fountain show programming, OTL was able to infuse life into each component, resulting in an art installation that is ever-changing—reflecting the steady and consistent movement of life itself.

Drawing upon its incomparable fountain design, construction expertise, and innovative integration of equipment and technology, OTL delivered a breathtaking water feature that is now recognized as the jewel of this recently completed development.

The creative water feature reflects the depth of San Mateo’s artistic community and, maintained by OTL, will serve to delight thousands of residents and guests as they gather with family and friends at this retail destination for many years to come.