Rainworks founder and CEO Peregrine Church installs a rain-activated seal artwork at a bus stop on 15th Ave S and S Columbian Way as part of an SDOT Community and Mobility Hubs and Safe Routes to School project to bring the area to life. Photo: SDOT Blog stats: 400 words | 2-minute read
Seattle has some pretty epic hidden gems, but most aren’t quite as “hidden” as this new gem in Beacon Hill.
That’s because you can only see it when it rains!
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has commissioned four new rain-activated public artworks at the plaza on 15th Ave S and S Columbian Way, across from Mercer International Middle School.
As part of our Community and Mobility Hubs and Safe Routes to School programs, SDOT staff collaborated with Mercer Middle School students, who shared their ideas to bring this plaza to life. We heard everything from games, art, trees, flowers, edible plants, and so much more.
Water features, and especially places to hang out with friends, were some key takeaways.
Their ideas inspired the playful, water-themed rainwork designs.
“’Rainwork’ is short for ‘rain activated artwork,’” said Peregrine Church, Rainworks founder and CEO. “Basically, our purpose is to give people a reason to look forward to rainy days.”
We caught up with Church as he was installing two sea lions at the bus stop on the west side, closest to MacPherson’s Fruit and Produce stand. “They are going to have a beach ball as if they are tossing it between them,” he explained.
Watch what he says about how “rainworks” work below.
The students also asked for a new bus shelter, seating, and trash bins, so a big thank you to our friends at King County Metro for adding that on the east side of the plaza.
These improvements are just the beginning! More are on the way, including seating and more art elements. Learn more and share your thoughts on the Community and Mobility Hubs page.
This is a community project through and through, and is funded by the local, voter-approved Seattle Transportation Levy and the Seattle Transit Measure.
So, thank you, Seattle voters, for making this project possible.