An Eternal Ribbon for Dublin

Dublin's Eternal Ribbon offers a warm welcome to all and illustrates the city's appreciation of public art. Located at the crossing of Dougherty Road and Dublin Boulevard, the piece is a highlight of the East and West Dublin BART Corridor Enhancement Project.  

The City Council chose the ribbon design in December 2007, hoping to give the estimated 60,000 motorists who use the intersection daily "the experience of passage."

The Eternal Ribbon derives from Dublin's City Streetscape Master Plan, which aims to enhance main entry points into the city.

"When I first saw it go up, I thought, 'Where'd they get the money for this?' " said resident Caroline Simmons. "I can relax a bit knowing that money was already marked for such a thing." 

The $580,000 cost of the Eternal Ribbon came from a $3.4 million Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission Federal Transportation Enhancement Activities grant that the city received in 2005. The cost of the BART corridor appearance project to date is $3.7 million. The $300,000 not covered by federal funding was paid through the city's gas tax funds. 

"Initially, the public had questions about funding and the use of [the city's] financial resources," said Linda Maurer, assistant to the city manager for economic development. "But now that it's complete, and they're not just seeing a twisting steel ribbon structure, [the public] can grasp the entire [Eternal Ribbon] concept, complete with its landscaping and signage.

Maurer emphasized that the ribbon is a gateway structure, not a public art installation that has ignored the recession. Monies used for the ribbon, or any portion of the East and West Dublin BART Corridor Enhancement Project, were allocated more than five years ago, she said. Dublin was awarded the federal transportation grant based on the council's approval of affordable high-density housing accompanied by easy access to public transportation, a stipulation of the endowment.

This guideline was met through the city's mixed-use retail and residential developments near the BART station. Some of the complexes feature below-market-rate units to qualified "very low, low and moderate income applicants" as defined by the Official State Income Limits for Alameda County. 

In return for building the housing, Dublin was awarded nearly $3.5 million to implement suggestions outlined in the East and West Dublin BART Corridor Enhancement Project. Recommendations include new city monument signage, direction postings, median markers, and the installation of updated (and replacement of existing) bus shelters. The proposal also suggests expanding the portion of the Iron Horse to Tassajara Creek Bikeway along the north side of Dublin Boulevard to a more bicycle and pedestrian friendly 12-foot wide trail.

The most striking outcome of the federal funds is the 100-foot wide, 22-foot high stainless steel arch that acts as a boundary sign of the city and marker for the busy intersection of Dougherty Road and Dublin Boulevard. A twist on the classic gateway arch, the "Eternal Ribbon" was named by the City Council. Its hope was that the art would give "people the experience of passage, and when viewed from above, is the symbol for infinity."

The piece was installed in front of Dublin Honda on April 7 by Ogletree Inc. The Eternal Ribbon is behind a "Welcome to Dublin" sign and marker at what the Tri Valley Transportation Council called one of the area's most congested intersections. 

The Eternal Ribbon was designed by Royston Hanamoto Alley & Abey  in collaboration with EndresWare Architects. 

The bending steel reflects light that shifts depending on a viewer's vantage point.  

The textured metal structure rising from two strategic points is, Royston Hanamoto Alley & Abey says, inspired by the Möbius strip, a mathematical object involving a two-dimensional sheet with one surface that exists in a three-dimensional visual reality.

When viewed from above, the arch creates an infinity symbol. 

This piece and other art are part of the city's branding campaign, aimed at updating its image and attracting new residents. While the traditional city insignia will still be used for "official" business, Dublin's new symbol -- the shamrock -- will be seen in many places.

"While every other community seems to have a tree in its city seal, Dublin's features the shamrock," said Maurer. "The shamrock has personality and character; it tells a story."

So does the Eternal Ribbon.

"It's starting to grow on me," said resident Alex Nguyen. "It sort of fills a void, which is what the city needs in general. If Dublin can fill both its literal and its symbolic potholes, then the residents will follow, and the [local] economy and attitudes will improve. "