Alexandra Greenway Richmond: DuraTherm Public Art by Bagua Artist Association
The Alexandra Greenway in Richmond is a community public art and beautification project created in partnership with the Bagua Artist Association. The installation uses DuraTherm — a design-flexible and durable preformed thermoplastic material — inlaid into imprinted asphalt to create a lasting surface artwork along the greenway corridor.
This is the type of project that demonstrates what's possible when public art and surface engineering work together rather than in parallel. The artistic design was developed by the Bagua Artist Association; the surface engineering was our responsibility. The result is a greenway surface that is both a pedestrian pathway and a public artwork.
DuraTherm for Complex Art Installations
DuraTherm is the product we specify when the design complexity exceeds what StreetBond coatings can achieve. Where StreetBond is excellent for broad colour fields and geometric patterns, DuraTherm allows us to work with intricate design elements — the kind of detail that an artist's design typically demands.
The preformed thermoplastic is manufactured to exact CAD specifications, then thermally inlaid into the asphalt substrate during installation. The material sits at the same level as the surrounding asphalt — not raised above it — which means it doesn't create a trip hazard and doesn't peel at the edges over time.
The service life for DuraTherm on a pedestrian pathway is comparable to our other thermoplastic systems: eight to twelve years at full design clarity, with gradual softening of fine details after that.
Public Art in the Civic Realm
The Alexandra Greenway project represents a model worth noting: community artist organizations, municipal parks departments, and specialized surface installation contractors working together to create public art that is also functional infrastructure.
The Bagua Artist Association's design is the cultural and creative content. DuraTherm is the delivery mechanism that ensures that content survives BC's climate over a multi-year timeframe.
For public art projects requiring durable surface installation across BC, contact us to discuss the installation process and product options.
