Commission approves public art program for large self‑storage development, with city architect review of mounting and finish

The San Gabriel Design Review Commission voted 4–0 (one absence) on March 28 to approve a public art program for a large self‑storage development at 4140–4200 South San Gabriel Boulevard (MSP23‑002), which includes two floors of artist/maker studios and extensive public art on the San Gabriel Boulevard frontage.

Staff described the multi‑year project as a roughly 1.75‑acre site with a building just under 200,000 square feet and about 9,000 square feet of artist studios on the ground floor. The public art package presented to the commission includes a stainless‑steel, linear artwork called "Reflected Terrain" by David Schaeffer along the San Gabriel Boulevard facade, and large perforated image panels by Jay Yon serving as playful, figurative murals adjacent to loading areas.

Artist David Schaeffer said his "Reflected Terrain" concept traces the San Gabriel Mountains as a continuous hand‑drawn line adapted to the building facade and described a reflective stainless‑steel finish illuminated from behind with LED lighting: "Reflected terrain is a tracing of a portion of the 70 mile long mountain range topography... The stainless steel finish offers a dynamic visual activity that would always be changing by reflecting the outside environment and light illuminated from behind at night." Jay Yon described his perforated panels as enlarged, whimsical portraits that tie into the project’s self‑storage theme.

Technical discussion focused on mounting details, spacing between the stainless‑steel band and the building face (engineers estimated a 3–4 inch offset with brackets every 3–4 feet), potential glare from the reflective finish on the west‑facing facade, and how LED lighting would be distributed behind the panels. Commissioner Tu asked about daytime glare; staff and the applicant said they had analyzed materials and that significant glare was unlikely given the narrow band, panel geometry and anticipated mounting height, but they agreed to perform further engineering and lighting coordination.

Planning staff proposed routing mounting and lighting details to the city architect during building plan check and suggested an option to require a field mock‑up only if a hazard or significant glare is identified. The artist and fabricator said the project team would work with the city architect and engineers to refine bracket details and lighting during plan check.

Commissioners praised the inclusive artist selection process and the project’s potential to enliven the boulevard. Vice Chair Salo moved to approve the program; the motion passed on a 4–0 roll call with Commissioner Chang absent. Approval includes the staff‑recommended conditions and the expectation that final mounting, bracket rotation and any required mitigation of glare will be reviewed and routed through the city architect during plan check.