Nevin Public Art Panels
Art installation of Individually Designed Custom Panels
Project Snapshot
Clients: HKIT, Slate Art, EAH Housing, NIAD
Location: 3559 Nevin Plaza Richmond, CA
Sector: Commercial
Scope: Interpreted original artwork and manufactured laser cut panels for exterior application
Timeline: Start August 2023-End July 2025
Materials: 11 gauge aluminum, MAP wet paint
Architect and Art Consultant: HKIT and Slate Art Gallery
The Ask
Modern Metal was brought on to transform original artwork created by future tenants, artists with intellectual disabilities, into custom laser-cut metal panels for an art installation on a new building. The project demanded a careful balance of artistic sensitivity and technical precision to preserve the intent of the original artists while ensuring the final product would be visually impactful from a distance and structurally sound. Close collaboration was key, involving EAH Housing, the architects at HKIT, the art consultants at Slate Gallery, and the NIAD Art Center, which supported the artists throughout the process.
Our Role
Modern Metal fabricated 12 custom laser-cut panels based on original artwork, with two designs repeated across the installation. Each pattern required careful interpretation to preserve the artists’ intent while making the designs structurally viable in metal. The panels were cut from 11-gauge aluminum and finished with a durable MAP wet paint, providing long-term protection against California’s outdoor elements and allowing for easy touch-ups.
The project presented a high level of complexity, every artwork posed its own unique challenges in translation, requiring a fine balance between visual fidelity and fabrication feasibility. Panel placement around the building was also intentionally considered, with certain designs selected to welcome more natural light and others positioned to provide shade and privacy. Every aspect of the project was fully custom, from the design development to the final installation.
Why It Matters
This project highlights Modern Metal’s unique ability to translate deeply personal artwork into durable, architectural metalwork—combining design sensitivity, long-term commitment, and technical expertise to create something both meaningful and lasting.
Key Features
- 14 custom metal panels, each measuring 56″ H x 48″ W, fabricated from 11-gauge aluminum
- 12 original artworks thoughtfully interpreted into laser-cut metal designs
- Finished with durable MAP wet paint for long-term exterior performance and easy touch-ups
- Delivered install-ready with pre-drilled holes and matching bolts specified by the architectural team
- Close coordination with Slate Gallery, HKIT Architects, EAH Housing, and NIAD Art Center
- Two-year project timeline required careful planning to manage material pricing and ensure cost consistency
“Working with Modern Metal on the Nevin Plaza project was extremely satisfying. Annie dedicated extra design time to personally re-interpret the artwork of five artists working with developmental disabilities at NIAD art center, so that they could be delivered as cut-metal panels for an architecturally-integrated public art program. Her team’s technical skills meant we got shop drawings for review, which the architect and general contractor could work off to design and build the supporting structures. She worked with us to consider materials and finishes in light of the exterior environment and durability requirements, and delivered the fourteen 57″ x 42” panels quickly and on budget. ” —Danielle Fox, Slate Art Consulting