Ottawa – Next spring, when the Market Place corridor is unveiled as part of OC Transpo’s  Southwest rapid transit expansion, many eyes will be drawn to the public art creatively incorporated into the expansion. The selection process for that art is now underway and the City is encouraging residents to voice their opinion.

Of the 11 local artists that responded to the call with submissions, four have been shortlisted. An opportunity to meet the four artists, view the proposals, and record comments will take place Tuesday, August 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the upper concourse of the Walter Baker Sports Centre, 100 Malvern Drive.  Comments will go to the Art Selection Committee to help them select the winning proposal.

The expanded rapid transit line will substantially increase availability, reliability, speed and comfort of transit service, ensuring that public transit is an attractive alternative to driving. In keeping with the Percent for Art Policy, the City of Ottawa’s Public Art Program initiated a competition for site-specific public art to be integrated into the Market Place corridor.

In keeping with the Percent for Art Policy, the City of Ottawa is accepting proposals for public artwork for the Longfields Transit Station. Artists are invited to apply to develop, design and implement a public art commission that will be integrated into Longfields Station as part of OC Transpo’s Rapid Transit expansion. Artist teams may also apply.

The Longfields Transit Station is located directly adjacent to south-east side of the VIA Rail corridor approximately half way between Greenbank Road and Fallowfield Road directly adjacent to an existing railway pedestrian underpass which currently provides a linkage between the Knollsbrook and Longfields Subdivisions.

The facility will boast a number of “green” features including: a vegetated roof, energy efficient elevators, promotion of alternative transportation modes, low volatile organic compounds in the paint products used, and natural ventilation and day lighting.  Construction of the new station is currently underway; the streamlined arch of the new transit facility is emblematic of the new branding direction towards which OC Transpo is heading as well as a metaphor for efficiency.