Bringing Art to Life

OTL pushes the artistic envelope in San Mateo’s newest retail destination center.

In Northern California there is a quaint town that serves as an artistic catalyst in its region.

The City of San Mateo has enacted an Art in Public Places ordinance that requires any development project valued at $3 million or more to integrate unique art installations into publicly accessible spaces.

At the soon-to-be-built Hillsdale Shopping Center—a retail destination being developed by Bohannon Development Company—Outside the Lines (OTL) is underway in bringing this art to life.

In partnership with landscape architect Lifescapes International and general contractor C.W. Driver, OTL has designed and is constructing an 1,871 square-foot show fountain with interweaving planter pockets to function as a work of art.

With construction well underway, OTL artisans are currently programming the fountain’s 71 individually controlled nozzles, creating choreography to activate the water in a sophisticated, visually intricate way.

The team is also installing 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 will resonate and elevate the visual experience of the fountain.  In addition, 142 separate color-changing LED lights are being individually choreographed to provide rich visual texture to the “living” art piece.

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

Complemented by living planter pockets in the fountain basin, the result will be an artistic expression of color, texture, and movement that will delight crowds from all angles.

By choreographing each element individually, OTL is 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.

The creativity expressed in the design of this show fountain reflects the depth of San Mateo’s artistic community.

The Hillsdale Shopping Center will be complete in March 2019, and will offer guests a wide range of activities including a luxury movie theater, fitness club, upscale bowling and bocce operation, among other offerings.

The property is located at Sixty 31st Avenue in San Mateo, California.