Downtown Columbus Inc. seeks permission to wrap five downtown utility boxes with local artists' work

Megan Hurley, of Downtown Columbus Inc., presented a request at the Columbus Art Commission meeting on Feb. 19, 2025, to install vinyl wraps reproducing existing works by local artists on five utility control boxes in downtown Columbus.

Hurley said the proposal covers five boxes at locations selected for high pedestrian traffic and new development and that four of the five are traffic control boxes while one is a light control box just south of Broad Street. "This is now the third iteration of this series that we're doing…we're super excited to be pursuing wrapping five more boxes this year," Hurley said.

The application names the artists whose existing work would be reproduced: Zach Van Horn, Elizabeth Miller, Anna Sokol, Alisa Workman and Chaz O'Neil. Hurley said the vendor would provide templates for cropping and splicing the artwork and that artists would approve the final digital reproductions before printing. The wraps are described as durable vinyl engineered to resist fading, abrasion, scratching, spray paint and adhesives; Hurley said the applicant would absorb responsibility for ongoing maintenance during the life of the wrap.

Staff analysis cited a code provision referenced in the packet as code section 3,115.05 (as printed in the meeting material) related to preservation of city property, maintenance and design balance, and preventing deterioration around public buildings and works. The proposal packet included budget, materials, timelines and location maps.

Hurley told the commission the wraps are expected to remain in place roughly three to five years and can last up to 10 years, though the applicant is not committing to the maximum lifespan in order to allow periodic rotation of pieces. Installation timing is weather-dependent; Hurley said installation is optimal between about 50 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit and the group is targeting April for installation.

The applicant plans to enter a maintenance agreement with the city's Department of Public Service, cosigned as needed with Recreation and Parks when the boxes fall within its jurisdiction. Hurley said QR-code stickers roughly 6 inches by 6 inches would be placed near each box and would link to Downtown Columbus Inc.'s public art webpage, where the program and artist information would be posted.

Commission members and attendees raised questions about QR-code visibility and web navigation. Commissioners and others suggested standardizing a single public-art landing page and making sure artist credits and links are included; Hurley said she would check that artist websites or social handles were linked and would follow up with the marketing team about site layout and visibility.

No formal vote or final action on the utility box wraps is recorded in the portion of the meeting transcript provided.

The commission packet and staff analysis were presented as part of the commission's review; the application remains subject to any required city permits and the forthcoming maintenance agreement described by the applicant.