Council asks artist for material samples and alternative siting after City Hall art presentation

Artist Mark Fornes returned to present refinements to his public‑art proposal for the new City Hall plaza and library axis, offering a revised, more transparent canopy or “music kiosk” alongside the original carousel‑like design the council had previously considered.

Fornes said the revised scheme keeps the central signal and massing of the original but pulls columns to the periphery to preserve sightlines from the council chamber toward the library and fountain. He described the fabrication as powder‑coated aluminum and recommended white finishes because white “attracts the least heat” and holds pigment better over time. He compared maintenance to a rinse, not power washing, and cited comparable installed projects in hot climates.

Councilmembers praised the artistic ambition but raised practical concerns about heat, tactile safety for children and how the piece would read from the library’s second floor. Several members — including the mayor and two councilmembers who preferred the original carousel concept — said the original design felt more iconic; others favored the revised kiosk because it preserved visual connections between campus buildings. The council directed staff and the artist to provide: material samples or local comparators, nighttime and alternate‑site renderings (including the lawn to the south), and a short list of completed installations in climates similar to Richardson.

What’s next: staff will return within roughly a month with comparative renderings and a sample of the powder‑coat finish for council review; the council acknowledged that further delays to finalize the selection could push the installation timeline past the city‑hall opening.