Chandler’s artsy parking structure to open Monday

PHOENIX – Chandler’s newest five-story parking garage is slated to open on Monday at 3 p.m. – but this is not your typical structure.

Not only will the Oregon Street Parking Garage have over 900 parking spots, it will also showcase public art from around the Valley.

The complex is located between Boston and Chicago streets.

Visitors who enter through the east side will be greeted by colorful canopies designed by Arizona’s coLAB Studio.

These are not your average canopies, as they were not only designed for shade, but to also illuminate various colors throughout the year.

As the seasons change, visitors inside the garage will be treated to intensified colors due to the sunslides both taking in and blocking out daylight.

The winter will highlight warm magenta, spring and fall will maintain lively green colors, and the summertime will reflect cooling blues.

Furthermore, the structure will also include geometric benches designed by Valley artist Jeff Zischke.

The colorful benches are different sizes and heights, but were made to reflect the increase in diversity in the southeast city.

The complex will also boast LED screens that contain thousands of bright lights in the north and south sides of the staircases.

The city will be able to control the visual effects throughout the year which, adds another focal point of the garage.

The public art inside the parking structure is funded by the city’s 1% for the arts ordinance, something that went into effect in the 1980s.