SAN ANTONIO (April 28, 2016) – VIA Metropolitan Transit held an official lighting and dedication Thursday for “Centro Chroma Tower,” a new sculptural landmark for the Greater San Antonio Region. The tower, created by San Antonio artist Bill FitzGibbons, stands at the corner of Frio and Travis streets at Centro Plaza at VIA Villa. It glows with computerized multi-colored LED lights, serving as a beacon for transit patrons while illuminating the skyline.
The design concepts for Centro Plaza originated from the vision to present the transit center as a transformative community space within the Cattleman Square historic district. VIA’s commitment to the integration of art and architecture in the design of its facilities includes the 85-foot light tower, serving as a wayfinding element for the area. Centro Chroma Tower provides a strong vertical element on the site, and it allows individuals to locate the Centro Plaza from a great distance.
The piece is constructed of structural steel and perforated metal. It is topped by a circular, perforated pattern in the form a sphere. The LED lights can be programmed in concert with the transit center’s column lanterns to create a “rhythm of light” across Centro Plaza.
“VIA is proud to support local art by providing both a home and an audience throughout our system for the community’s impressive works of art,” said VIA President and CEO Jeff Arndt. “Incorporating Centro Chroma Tower into VIA’s state-of-the-art transit plaza creates a strong architectural element by day and an iconic beacon of light at night, and we thank Bill FitzGibbons for his artistic contribution to the landscape of our community.”
FitzGibbons, an internationally renowned artist, has received more than 30 public art commissions in five countries. He is the former executive director of Blue Star Contemporary Art Museum, and was selected by the Texas State Legislature in 2012 as The Texas State Artist for sculpture.
VIA Metropolitan Transit provides public transportation services to 13 cities in the Greater San Antonio Region and the unincorporated areas of Bexar County. VIA operates seven days a week on 90 routes and provided 41 million rides across the region in 2015. VIA’s mission is to enhance the community’s quality of life by providing regional and customer-oriented public transportation that is dependable, cost-effective and enticing to more riders. VIA’s AAA bond rating reflects the organization’s sound management and financial practices. Visit www.VIAinfo.net for more information. Follow us on www.Facebook.com/VIATransit, www.Twitter.com/VIA_Transit, and www.Instagram.com/VIATransit.