ULI2D in partnership with Artlink Inc., Arizona Strategies, and Espiritu Loci Incorporated, commissioned artists to produce large-scale murals for an Arizona Public Service (APS) electric substation, located on a prominent corner of Roosevelt Row in the Evans Churchill neighborhood.  Eight murals up to 28 feet tall, totaling 5,750 square feet, produced by ten artists celebrate the arts and vitality of this renowned downtown Phoenix neighborhood.

Downtown Phoenix has undergone a great deal of growth over the past few decades and is expected to see even more expansion in the years ahead. APS is providing safe reliable power to the area already and is constructing new infrastructure to support the future growth of the downtown area, the highest concentration of APS customers in the state.  APS recently completed an extensive community engagement assessment that occurred over a four-year period focused on selecting and designing a one-acre property for a new substation in the downtown area. 

APS hired Arizona Strategies and Espiritu Loci Incorporated, to lead the site selection process and develop a site-specific design solution. Working in partnership with the community and the City of Phoenix, plans were made to create murals that wrap the exterior of the substation, alongside metalwork, sculpture, creative signage, clever wayfinding, decorative pavement, and rooftop gardens. Espiritu Loci partnered with Artlink Inc. to facilitate an open call to artists, who were invited to submit their portfolios for consideration for the mural panels.

In addition to murals, sculptures, colorful chairs, “Instagrammable moments” and other pieces of art will be included throughout the project to transform the block-long stretch into a unique and welcoming space.

To learn more about the selected mural artists: Brian Boner, Tato Caraveo, Lalo Cota, Lauren Lee, Dwayne Manuel, Natasha Martinez & Anitra Molina, Such & Champ, and Shela Yu.