The Buckley Transportation Center in Lawrence, Massachusetts, is undergoing an exciting transformation, set to become a vibrant public art landmark. Spearheaded by MassDevelopment, the City of Lawrence, and the Partnership for Buckley, this initiative aims to revitalize downtown Lawrence by converting the prominently located transportation hub into an artistic focal point.
Buckley Transportation Center in Lawrence MA showcases its vibrant blue facade, part of a public art transformation project to revitalize the downtown area.
The first phase of this ambitious project is already complete, marking a significant visual change. The previously cold and uninviting grey exterior of the Buckley Transportation Center has been replaced with a striking blue facade. This is just the initial step in a three-part plan designed to rebrand this civic building and inject energy into the surrounding streets. The distribution of color, carefully planned by Luke Laverty, is intended to dynamically animate the structure, naturally guiding the eye towards the prominent corner at a major intersection, where the blue hue reaches its most intense saturation.
Further enhancements are planned to improve the pedestrian experience at the Buckley Transportation Center. The next stage involves repairing and upgrading the ground floor and bus waiting areas. The goal is to create a more welcoming and comfortable environment for commuters and visitors utilizing the center and its associated amenities. Proposed improvements include a metal mesh scrim with integrated signage, strategically designed to refocus attention on the important city corner and enhance wayfinding.
Adding another layer of artistic expression, Elevated Thought, a local community arts collective, will contribute a mural. This artwork will be applied to the brick exterior stairwells and blue walls, further transforming the aesthetics of the Buckley Transportation Center and embedding local art into the fabric of the transportation hub.
This transformative design is the result of a collaborative effort between PAYETTE, the Lawrence community, and various city organizations. Anticipation is building for the project’s completion this summer. The community eagerly awaits the unveiling of the Buckley Transportation Center’s metamorphosis from a drab bus depot into a landmark symbolizing the burgeoning vitality of Lawrence, Massachusetts.
