StantecArt: Where Art Meets Architecture

Submitted by Ileana Schinder, Architect, (Washington DC)

Visitors walking by Washington DC’s Stantec office are often enticed by the aromas coming from Baked & Wired next door, one of Washington’s top bakeries. Their scrumptious cupcakes, bagels and even dog treats have earned them columns of ink in The Washington Post. Walking in, along with coffee and sugary treats, customers are greeted by art expositions that rotate every few months.

StantecArt

Those with enough willpower to skip the bakery and go straight to Stantec’s office won’t be disappointed to discover that, even lacking the famous frosted mini cakes, the office enjoys its own art show. As the first rotating art display, StanttecArt exhibits the works of two staff members: Harish Murthy and Kai Hu.

In the open conference room, designer Harish Murthy’s colorful paintings bring life to meetings. Harish is an artist who explores design and creativity using vibrant colors and lines. His current series explores the beauty of abstract shapes and forms defined by intersecting lines. He works with acrylic on canvas and his art tends to have lots of layering and some texture.

Villa d’Este by Kai Hu

StantecArt’s other artist, Kai Hu, presents cityscape watercolors that impress by the level of detail and the balance of light and shade. They express Kai’s experience on cities: streets, plazas, buildings, gardens, landscapes and people that live in man-made environments. Most of them are improvisational paintings on site or after his visit to a city. The whole process of water coloring is Kai’s way to observe and comprehend how a city works and how it could be perfectly built. The landscapes inspire him to design a better city to improve people’s life.

StantecArt is the result of Andrea Feniak’s original idea, and the executive production efforts of Tom Campbell, both architects in Stantec. A summer open house event was enjoyed by the staff and friends.

So, next time you come to visit us in Washington, a box of treats for the staff will make you feel like a private benefactor of a world class museum while earning you an exclusive art tour by the artists themselves. So, go ahead, stock up on cupcakes and, on your way upstairs, enjoy the show.