Nashua Garages Set For Beyond Walls Makeover Under 'Nashua in Motion' Project

NASHUA, NH — Two downtown Nashua parking garages are set for a large-scale public art makeover as Beyond Walls returns to the city for a new civic design project.

The Elm and High Street garages are being transformed under the banner of "Nashua in Motion." Work began on the garages on Sept. 14 and will conclude on Oct. 2. The effort is being carried out in partnership with Beyond Walls, the city of Nashua, and architecture firm Payette, and follows a first phase of structural repairs and remediation that is nearing completion.

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The next phase shifts to the garages' exteriors, with Beyond Walls leading the creative design and installation process across both sites. The project is part of what the announcement describes as Nashua's ongoing effort to improve the appearance and the public's experience of the downtown facilities.

Beyond Walls is collaborating with internationally known artists Mr. June, Leon Keer and Eltono to transform the garages' exteriors in an ambitious beautification and civic-design project that will enhance public spaces while capturing the ways people, ideas and culture flow through the city.

Beyond Walls Founder and CEO Al Wilson said the work is intended to change how people experience downtown spaces.

"Since launching Beyond Walls almost a decade ago, we have seen firsthand how art and design can change the way residents and visitors alike experience a downtown, making shared spaces more hospitable, memorable and representative of the surrounding communities," he said. "These garages are gateways to the heart of the city, and this project provides an opportunity to reflect the movement, creativity, and momentum that define Nashua today."

According to Wilson, the installations will help make the garages more easily recognizable, welcoming, and connected to the character of the city's business district. The "Nashua in Motion" theme invites each artist to interpret movement in a distinct way, from the physical movement of people through downtown to the broader momentum of a growing, evolving city.

The High Street garage will feature work by Mr. June across all four sides, covering about 13,000 square feet, according to the announcement. At the Elm Street Garage, Eltono will paint multiple sides of the structure, while Leon Keer will create giant images on two prominent areas. That work will cover about 15,200 square feet.

During the pandemic, the city, Payette, Beyond Walls, and Lynn Vocational Technical High School students worked on outdoor dining barriers and handwashing stations.

Beyond Walls also partnered with local artists on colorful designs for 80 concrete street fixtures downtown.