Jayne Kirkpatrick, Director, Public Affairs

For more information: Kim Curry-Evans, Public Art Coordinator, Office of Raleigh Arts, 919-996-4688, or Megan Hinkle, Communications Specialist, Solid Waste Services, 919-996-6886.

Jan. 7, 2014

Wilders Grove Solid Waste Services Facility to Celebrate

Public Art Unveiling and LEED Platinum Certification

The City of Raleigh will commemorate two special milestones for its Wilders Grove Solid Waste Services Facility with an open house on Saturday, Jan. 25, from 10 a.m. to noon. The Office of Raleigh Arts will unveil the facility’s new public art as the City’s Solid Waste Services Department celebrates the facility’s recent LEED Platinum certification. The event is free and open to the public.

The Wilders Grove Solid Waste Services Facility is located at 630 Beacon Lake Drive. The open house will include refreshments, facility tours, and art activities for children. Acknowledgements and the art unveiling will occur at 10:30 a.m., officiated by Mayor Pro Tem John Odom.

Raleigh artist Matt McConnell, with Marc Russo and Lee Cherry, was commissioned in 2012 by the Public Art and Design Board to create public art at the Wilders Grove facility that would integrate recycled materials into its design and raise awareness regarding the various ways to reduce and reuse waste. The resulting artwork, titled “The Wilders Grove Project,” is a 40-foot-long interactive wall relief that conveys the evolution and transformation of waste products through the use of recycled materials embedded with animated kaleidoscopes. More than 200 volunteers contributed time and materials to the project.

“The artwork was one of many components considered in our successful application for LEED Platinum certification,” said Fred Battle, director of the Solid Waste Services Department. “It is fitting that we celebrate these two milestones with the entire Raleigh community.”

The Wilders Grove Solid Waste Facility achieved LEED Platinum certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. LEED Platinum certification is the highest rating given by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute. LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

The City of Raleigh Solid Waste Services Department provides reliable waste management solutions to the Raleigh community through residential curbside collection and a variety of specialized services. The department works proactively to reduce waste and to increase recycling in Raleigh while demonstrating a commitment to sustainability in all areas of its operations.

Public art at selected City of Raleigh sites is authorized by the Half Percent for Art Ordinance adopted by the City Council in 2009 and implemented by the City’s Public Art and Design Board and the City of Raleigh Arts Commission.

The Office of Raleigh Arts supports and promotes the arts in Raleigh by administering the programs of the City of Raleigh Arts Commission and the City’s Public Art and Design Board, and supporting the Pullen and Sertoma arts centers. The Office of Raleigh Arts is a part of the City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department.

For more information, contact Kim Curry-Evans, public art coordinator, Office of Raleigh Arts, at 919-996-4688; or Megan Hinkle, communications specialist for the City of Raleigh Solid Waste Services Department, at 919-996-6886.

{NOTE: Attached is an image of “The Wilders Grove Project” by Matt McConnell, Lee Cherry and Marc Russo.}