Room Within

Artist: Merge Conceptual Design (2016)

Art reinforces the identity of the transit line while strengthening the unique character of the stations as neighborhood landmarks. The artworks contribute to the vibrancy of the cityscape, promote neig­hborhood pride and create engaging experiences for pedestrians and transit users alike.Eighteen bus shelter along the Santa Clara-Alum Rock Bus Rapid Transit route received art enhancements with the goal to reinforce a coherent identity of the transit line. The art enhancements consist of three elements – a glass wind screen, metal ceiling panels, and concrete pavers that together create a distinct space within each shelter. Each station has a distinct theme related to the neighborhood, giving each shelter a unique identity.  The station locations (northbound/southbound) are defined by a color to further strengthen each station’s identity on the transit line. Patterns were derived from stories of the surrounding neighborhood: detailed research and community input helped the artists to identify a range of themes inspired by history and contemporary community. For more on this project please see Merge Conceptual Design.

This is a project of the Valley Transportation Authority, managed by the San Jose Public Art Program

District: 3, 5, 6, 8, 10

Report a Concern: (408) 793-04330 or publicart@sanjoseca.gov.

Documents

• Room Within ~ Fact Sheet 

Features

• (Public Art) Transit
• (Public Art) Downtown
• (Public Art) Permanent Artworks

Arena Station | Eastbound: Inspired by ice skating traces and hockey puck scuffs made by the San Jose Sharks.

Downtown |Eastbound: Inspired by seed packet design from the oldest seed company in the America. Founded in San Jose in 1917, it was located on N. Market Street.

Downtown | Westbound: Inspired by the first computer hard drive developed by IBM, then located on Dame Street.  

City Hall Westbound: Inspired by the patents awarded locally; San Jose had the highest number of patents filed by any US city in 2014.

17th Street | Eastbound: Inspired by American Dairy, formerly located at 17th & Santa Clara Street. It closed in 1960.

17th Street | Westbound: Art patterns inspired by artifacts of Vietnamese, Portuguese, and Mexican games played in the neighborhood.

24th Street | Eastbound: Inspired by handmade lace by a group of local Portuguese crochet artists.

24th Street | Westbound: Inspired by San jose High School, one of the oldest high schools in California, and its "Big Bone Game," played since 1943.

King Road| Eastbound: Inspired by Mexican heritage told through the traditional art of papel picado.

King Road | Westbound: Inspired by Native American and Aztec heritage told through the traditional art of papel picado.

Jackson Street | Eastbound: Inspired by the tradition of hat-wearing for church as photographed locally.

Jackson Street | Westbound: Inspired by farm labor organizing efforts of Cesar Chavez and others.

Alum Rock | Eastbound: Inspired by vintage postcards of Alum Rock Park, its topography, and thenardite and mirabilite crystals found there.

Alum Rock | Westbound: Inspired by Norteno music and the charreria culture.

Story | Eastbound: Inspired by the low rider custom car culture vibrant in this neighborhood.

Story | Westbound

Ocala | Eastbound: Inspired by small-propeller aircraft at Reid Hillview Airport. Shown is windscreen pattern.

Ocala | Westbound: Inspired by the last remaining apricot orchards in San Jose and Vietnamese flower celebrations.