A unique "folly" proposed for downtown Redmond

A local architect has visions of people of all ages “Playing in Traffic” – and so far, he’s been getting encouragement for the idea he calls “a lot unique.”

A few months ago Bill Schertzinger of Redmond walked out of Cent-Wise Sporing Goods at the intersection of Southwest Sixth Street and Evergreen Avenue and was hit with an idea. It started as a sculpture in the middle of the intersection, up high so traffic could travel under. But as Schertzinger began sketching, more ideas struck him and the sculpture grew into an intersection-spanning platform topped by a roofed glass cube taller than the Historic Redmond Hotel by about 15 feet, and sporting a carousel on one side.

“Playing in Traffic,” as he’s dubbed his creation, could be a unique centerpiece for the city, he told members of the Downtown Urban Renewal Advisory Committee at their March 30 meeting.
If located at the busiest intersection in town, it would be the tallest structure in town, the most unique and the most sustainable building in town, Schertzinger said. The project would develop a sense of community, draw visitors, increase pedestrian traffic downtown, and stimulate immediate and long-term employment, he said of the proposed project’s three main elements: art, entertainment for all ages, and education. Imagine people driving down Sixth Street and seeing the structure from a distance. They’d have to stop to check it out, he said. He envisions partnering with OMSI or the Working Wonders children’s museum in Bend to develop educational opportunities for solar power, windmills and other sustainable technologies as well as having entertainment, such as the carousel and a big slide tube.The structure would be so unique people would make downtown Redmond a destination.

“Imagine looking down Evergreen from the reroute and seeing it all lit up at night,” he said. “Imagine the stimulus. Hardhats to do the work and customers later.”

At this point, he has no idea how much the structure would cost or how it would be paid for, though his idea is to get grants and donations from all parts of the community.
Schertzinger made the presentation to DURAC to get feedback on the idea and to see if there was interest in helping him fund a digital version of his plans.Schertzinger said he was spending so much time developing his idea that his wife told him he needed to find some paying jobs.

Around Thanksgiving someone an anonymous donor wrote him a check for $10,000 so he could pursue the project.

DURAC members were intrigued with the idea. No one panned it outright.

“This is the kind of thing that makes cities spectacular,” said DURAC member Carol Nelson. While seeing a list of issues that would have to be resolved before such a structure could be built, DURAC member Craig Ladkin called it a cool idea, and suggested Schertzinger put the idea out in the public and see what reaction the proposal gets.

Later in the week Schertizinger said he’s ready to see what the public thinks. Over the months he’s been developing the idea and building the model, he’s shown it to a variety of people, including many longtime residents, and he’s been encouraged by their positive reactions. Now, he’d like to move the idea to the next level and make a digital model that can be used to get cost estimates and for fundraising, he said, but that takes time and money.

Still, Schertzinger says this may be the right time to get people interested. About a month ago as he was working on his model, he took time to attend Mayor George Endicott’s state of the city speech. As Endicott ticked off a list of eight elements for his vision of the city, Schertzinger said he got excited. Though Endicott had no idea what Schertzinger was working on, each element seemed to apply to “Playing in Traffic” – creation of a unique sense of place for public and private investors; a common sense of purpose; a commitment to sustainability, learning and education, honors diversity and offers choices, respect for enterprise and ingenuity, commitment to transparency (“With all that glass, you can’t get any more transparent”) and arts, fun and recreation.

“It’s all there,” Schertzinger said.

The public is invited to view Schertzinger’s model. It’s displayed in the lobby of his Glacier Place Building, corner of Southwest Seventh Street and Glacier Avenue. A notepad is available for recording reactions, comments, and ideas.

“I’m looking for them all,” he said. Whatever happens, the innovative architect has enjoyed the experience. “This is fun; I’ve been having a hoot doing it,” Schertzinger said.

-- story and photo by Trish Pinkerton