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Public Art Guidelines for Placing Art on City Streets/Rights-of-Way
These guidelines outline City Engineering Services’ general considerations for determining the acceptability of public art installations on City streets and sidewalks.
All proposed artwork must respect the primary function of the street, which is to enable the safe and orderly movement of pedestrians and vehicles. Streets also function as utility corridors, and access must be maintained for present and future services above and below ground. Finally, Vancouver’s streets adhere to national standards for the design and/or placement of street surfaces, utilities, and traffic devices, and public artwork must conform to these standards. However, the application of these standards may permit some flexibility of interpretation, and the final decision about any individual artwork rests with the City Engineer.
Traffic Considerations
Public art:
- should not be unduly distractive to motorists
- should not interfere with driver/driver or driver/pedestrian sightings, and should therefore generally avoid corner clearance areas
- should not unduly obstruct sight of curbside regulations (noting that curbside regulations can in some cases be relocated)
- should not obstruct sightings of signal/pedestrian heads, or of any traffic control device
- should not interfere with entrance/egress or queuing for transit buses
- should not unduly disrupt curb use activities, ie. Loading zone, passenger zone (noting that in some cases these can be relocated)
- should not interfere with the opening of car doors
Pedestrian Considerations
If public art is set in a walking surface:
- the leading vertical edge should not exceed 1/8" (to avoid trip hazard)
- interior vertical edges should not exceed 1/4"
- skid resistance properties should be equivalent to concrete sidewalks
- depressions in the surface should not catch the spike heels of women’s shoes
- depression in the surface should not cause water to pool - ice hazard
- the art must support vehicle weight (National Building Code requirement for sidewalks where there is potential for vehicle loading is 12-Kpa and min. point load of 54 KN acting over area of 750 mm x 750 mm)
- maintenance of adjacent elements of the streetscape, including the sidewalk itself, should not be interfered with
Public art should:
- maintain a minimum sidewalk width based on pedestrian volumes
- minimize the potential for concealment and anti-social activities
- maintain clearance from above - and below ground utilities
Public art should avoid:
- sharp edges, points, projections, or pinch-points which may cut, puncture or cause injury by impact, catch passing pedestrian clothing, or entrap limbs
- interfering with existing sidewalk structures such as:
- parking metres
- benches/ bus shelters
- crosswalks ramps
- utility access points or valves
- hydrants
- obstructing pedestrian access to traffic signal push buttons
- overhead parts which present a hazard to pedestrian traffic ( ie. as per minimum sign height)
- unsafe climbing opportunities for children/adults
Electrical and Mechanical Considerations
- all electrical and mechanical components must by CSA approved
- all electrical elements and built up electrical devices must be Certified by a Professional Engineer, and upon completion, sealed as-built drawing may be required from the supervising Professional Engineer
- any connections to City street lighting circuits must be approved by the City Engineer
- no connection will be permitted to City Traffic signal circuits
- the junctions of components moving relative to one another must not create such hazards to people as pinch, crush or shear points
Structural Considerations
- structural components must be designed to meet City of Vancouver Building Code requirements
- structural components may be required to be certified by a Professional Engineer and upon completion, sealed as-built drawing may be required from the supervising Professional Engineer
- structural components must be capable of supporting the load of potential climbers and environmental loads
- structures flush with boulevards and sidewalks must be capable of supporting a vehicle weight
Maintenance
- artwork should be designed and constructed so as to minimize maintenance requirements
- artwork should be designed to minimize vandalism, theft and graffiti
- artwork should not be designed or constructed so as to attract garbage and litter
- on completion, the artist must supply a maintenance manual, including a list of coatings and paints, and a schedule of maintenance frequencies
Additional Considerations
- The installation of art on City streets/rights-of-way must be inspected by the Engineering Services Department. The cost of the inspection is charged to the artist’s budget, and will vary, depending on the cost of the inspectors’ time.
- Any enquiries that the artist may have of the Engineering Services Department are to be coordinated through one contact person, to be designated by the Engineering Services Department. This is important so as to ensure that information provided is accurate and consistent.
- In many cases the above consecrations are detailed by specific criteria, or specific dimension, which can be supplied by the Engineering Services Department contact person for each public art project.
- Construction and/or installation of the art may be done by City forces, if required by the City Engineer
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