pierre poussin

Public Art Commissions

Variegation Courtyard, Quartz Condominium Towers, Concord Adex Developments, Toronto, Ontario, Construction Fall 2012.

Winner of an International Public Art Competition to design elegant exterior light installations throughout a large courtyard for Toronto’s Quartz Condominium Complex. The Variegation Public Art Program will include large light columns, public seating, windscreens to help mediate high ground wind conditions, and a feature light installation depicting playful interpretations of local indigenous flowers and plants sprouting and growing throughout the large eighty-thousand square foot exterior space. All light elements will be fabricated using water-jet cut stainless steel structures, highlighted by programmed LED light systems.

Exported Floras, Florian Condominium Complex, Diamante Development Coroporation, Yorkville, Toronto, Ontario, Construction Fall 2012.

Commissioned to create a detailed Public Art Program including a large exterior feature wall and a focal art element located at the main entrance of Yorkville’s chic Florian Tower, opening Fall 2012. Located on Davenport Road at Bay Street, the concepts for these public art installations were inspired by Davenport’s rich history as one of Canada’s oldest trading routes. Exported Floras’ imagery is composed of three indigenous flowers which were all exported to Europe during Canada’s colonization period.

Picturesque Landscape, the City of Ajax, Community, Recreation & Cultural Department, Ajax, ON, Construction Spring 2012.

Winner of a National Public Art Competition to create an exterior artwork installation for the City of Ajax’s Waterfront Wildflower Meadow, located near Lake Ontario. This beautiful landscape is composed of a variety of native plants, insects, and animals which thrive in this unique ecosystem. This playful public art installation will be made using structural steel beams with weather-proof industrial finishes. Picturesque Landscape was designed to encourage the public to further appreciate this exceptional scenery, while capturing Wildflower Meadow’s dynamic natural moments, unique characteristics and picturesque scenery.

World Markets, Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Mississauga, Ontario, Construction Fall 2011.

Commissioned to design the main entrance feature wall for Sheridan College’s new Business Campus, in Mississauga, opening Fall 2011. World Markets will be a playful and dynamic public art installation which will depict the relationships of our commodities, currencies and stock markets and the influence they play with one another, using different illustrative graph styles commonly used in Business Schools.

Fireworks Boulevard and Flames, the City of Vancouver Olympics and Paralympics’ Public Art Program, Vancouver, British Columbia. January 2010.

Fireworks Boulevard and Flames were created for Vancouver's 2010 Winter Olympics' Public Art Program, in collaboration with Adrian Göllner’s Rain Barrels installation. These pieces inspired directly by the festive spirit of the Olympic Games and the Olympic Flame, and were both made using lightweight steel structures, shaped and machined polycarbonate extrusions, along with programmable and wireless LED lighting systems. They serve as animated street art, as well as original way-finding for athletes and spectators to Olympic live sites and venues, and were both showcased in the 2010 Olympics Torch Relay. These LED light works will remain installed as part of Vancouver’s Olympic Legacy Program.

Mitosis Courtyard, Panorama Condominium Tower, Concord Adex Developments, Toronto, Ontario, 2007 - 2010. 

Winner of a National Public Art Competition, commissioned to create a large exterior courtyard for Panorama Tower, Concord Developments’ newest, ultra-chic Lakeshore condominium complex. This concept was inspired by Toronto’s evolving shoreline, which in 1884, before the extension of the area in the late industrial revolution, spanned the area now beneath Panorama’s courtyard. My responsibilities for the creation of Mitosis Courtyard included extensive concept design and development, detailing and industrial design of all 25 custom light columns, 6 public seating units, as well as hand-drawn organic ground painting and the supervision of prototyping, fabrication and installation, and the design of the parking layout. Execution of these elements required architectural drafting, material research, industrial design and outsourcing of all custom light columns, public benches and custom artworks.

Floating Waters, Panorama Condominium Tower, Concord Adex Developments, Toronto, Ontario, 2009 - 2010.

Commissioned to design a dynamic interior public art installation, Floating Waters is a playful depiction of Toronto’s old shoreline, which has expanded and evolved since Canada’s industrial revolution. This public artwork was designed for Panorama Tower, located in downtown Toronto. Suspended across this feature Lake Shore corridor, these pieces were created to mimic the ebb and flow of water, evoking movement throughout the space. The floating cells were made using dynamic optical films which simulate reflective water surfaces, and frames made from powder-coated steel, suspended from fixed aircraft cables. My responsibilities included the concept design, development and material specification, as well as prototyping, fabrication and installation supervision.

Lakeshore Canopy, Panorama Condominium Tower, Concord Adex Developments, Toronto, Ontario, 2009 - 2010.

Hired to design an exterior focal canopy for Panorama Tower’s main Lakeshore Boulevard entrance. This feature entrance canopy was inspired by the dynamic nature and movement of water. Lakeshore Canopy was fabricated using bent structural steel beams, along with laser-cut and powder-coated steel surfaces, highlighted with light-diffusing composites which are backlit, using an internal LED lighting system. My responsibilities included the industrial design, development and outsourcing of all Lakeshore Canopy components, as well as the supervision of the installation and fabrication. 

Terrace Windscreens, Panorama Condominium Tower, Concord Adex Developments, Toronto, Ontario, 2009.

Commissioned to design playful windscreens for the public rooftop terrace for Panorama Tower, which also complements the Mitosis ground-floor pedestrian courtyard. These pieces were developed with structural and wind engineer consultants, who advised specific open/close ratios for the screens surface areas, for the specific wind conditions of this rooftop terrace. They were made from curved laser-cut and powder-coated steel, with custom-machined steel posts. I was in charge of the concept design, development and industrial design of all four custom windscreens, as well as the supervision of the outsourcing and fabrication.

Selected Press

Siri Agrell, “Welcome To Your Next Hangout,” The Globe and Mail, March 26, 2011.

Leah Sandals, “City of Lights: Public Artwork Illuminates Toronto,” by The Toronto Star, January 19, 2011.

Shannon Anderson, “Pierre Poussin’s Mitosis Courtyard is a new place to appreciate our growing city,” Design Lines, January 1, 2011.

Siân Disson, “Pierre Poussin's Mitosis Courtyard installation to save Gardiner Expressway,” World Architecture News, September 3, 2010.

Diane Chan, “Pimlico Design Gallery; Shop Here,” Design Lines, September 1, 2010.

Nathalie Atkinson, “Hidden Gems; The future collectible,” The National Post, July 10, 2010.

Nathalie Atkinson, “Retail Therapy: Pimlico Gallery’s colourful design stars,” The National Post, July 9, 2010.

Peter Simpson, “Lighting up the Olympics,” The Ottawa Citizen, February 20, 2010.

Neal Hall, “Multi-coloured artworks light up streets,” The Vancouver Sun, February 18, 2010.

Neal Hall, “LED artworks give Vancouver an Olympic burst of colour ,” The Vancouver Sun, February 18, 2010.

Marsha Lederman, “Take it Outside: New Olympic Public Art Announced,” The Globe and Mail, November 11, 2009.

Kevin Griffin, “City Gets More Cutting Edge Public Art,” The Vancouver Sun, October 24, 2009.

Kevin Griffin, “City Picks Six Artists to Create Public Artworks for the Games,” The Vancouver Sun, September 25, 2009.

Kevin Griffin, “Vancouver Gets Major Infusion of Public Art,” The Vancouver Sun, September 25, 2009.

Dorry Carr-Harris, Gillian Grace, Kathryn Hayward, “Toronto’s Coolest New Stuff by Best Local Designers,” Toronto Life, Made in Toronto Issue, February 1, 2008.

Tim McKeogh, “Designers morphing sciences and design in ‘Geek Chic.’” The Globe and Mail, April 7, 2007.

Janice Lindsay, “Canadian Designers to Watch Out For,” [number one on the list] The Globe and Mail, January 1, 2007.

Janice Lindsay, “Christmas Wish List,” [number one on the list] The Globe and Mail, November 25, 2006.

Selected Consulting Projects & Commissions

ShakeOut Dessert Parlor, Tampa, Florida, 2009 – present. Construction Spring 2011. 

This new playful boutique dessert parlor, commissioned by a British developer, will open later this year in downtown Tampa, Florida. My primary tasks include concept development and design of interior space designs, featuring vibrant display walls with incorporated LED lighting, interior bars with built-in seating areas, as well as an exterior patio with custom-designed furniture, fixtures and signage. With over 200 ingredients to choose from, ShakeOut's design will showcase its vast assortment of flavors, by encasing and backlighting all available ingredients in clear acrylic shapes, creating illuminated and dynamic feature walls. ShakeOut’s vibrant design was inspired by abstracted shapes of melting ice cream moving across the interior space.

Princeton University Library Furniture, Julian Street Library, Princeton New Jersey, USA, December 2009. 

Mitosis Furniture, manufactured by Nienkämper, is commissioned to be the principal furniture used in the front lobby and lounge areas of the Princeton University student library.

Mitosis Furniture, Nienkämper Furniture and Accessories Inc., Toronto, 2007 - present. 

Mitosis Furniture is a successful line of laser-cut, break-formed, welded and powder-coated steel furniture, commissioned by Nienkämper Furnishings, Canada’s leading commercial and residential furniture manufacturer and showroom. Fusing art and science, these pieces serve as playful depictions of cellular division and molecular movement, studies of positive and negative space, as well as experimentations of light and shadow. It was featured in the Nienkämper exhibition at the Toronto International Interior Design Show, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, February 2008.  

Toxic Fish Showroom and Corporate Office, Argon Distribution/Technologies, Toronto, Ontario, 2006.

Duties were to convert warehouse space into a retail showroom and corporate office for new clothing company. Responsibilities included concept development, space planning, computer renderings, architectural drafting, design and outsourcing of all custom display units and furnishings for both showroom and office space.

Modular Fence System, Gaetano Rao, Architect, Toronto, Ontario, 2006.

Tasks included conceptual development, computer 3D modeling, drafting, material exploration and outsourcing of components.

Gallery Space, Ontario Crafts Council, Toronto, Ontario, 2006.

Draftsman and assistant renovator for new office and gallery space located on Queen Street West

Employment

Self employed consultant, 2006 - present.

Consulting design, architectural and computer rendering services for clients including Nienkämper, Classic Displays, Ramp Design, Toxic Fish, and the Ontario Crafts Council.

Industrial Designer, Classic Displays, Mississauga, Ontario, 2008 - 2009.

Designer for a firm manufacturing decorative light fixtures, seasonal LED installations, and outdoor furniture. Duties included the conceptual development and detailing of public light installations and municipal fixtures for clients such as the Walt Disney Corporation, the City of Toronto, the City of Oakville, and the Peace Bridge Authority of Fort Erie, Ontario and Buffalo, New York.

Environmental Designer, Ramp Design, Toronto, Ontario, 2006 - 2008.

Designer of interior designs for clients including the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, the McMaster University cafeteria and food court, and the Lexus/Toyota’s Car Show Exhibits XM listening stations. On the GreyEagle Casino, in Calgary, Alberta, developed conceptual design of the main gaming floor, restaurant, bar, gift shop, wayfinding and front lobby public art. Duties included development of concepts, preparation of computer and manual renderings for client presentations, specification of graphics, fittings, millwork and other components, and co-ordination of installation with fabricators, contractors and suppliers.

Furniture Fabricator, Nienkamper factory, Scarborough, Ontario, summer 2004

General factory laborer performing a wide variety of fabrication and finishing duties including veneering, sanding, edging, upholstery and assembly.

Public Art Competitions:  Finalist

Bay Street Public Art Project, Public Art for Concert Properties’ 570 Bay Street Tower, Toronto, Ontario, 2010.

Finalist for Bay Street public art competition, in downtown Toronto’s Financial District, in collaboration with Adrian Göllner.

Bloor Street Transformation Project, Public Art for Bloor and Younge Street Intersection, Toronto, Ontario, 2010.

Finalist for Bloor Street public art competition, located on Canada’s busiest public intersection, in collaboration with Adrian Göllner.

TTC Woodbine Subway Station, Toronto Transit Commission, Toronto, Ontario, 2009.

Finalist for Toronto Transit’s public artwork competition for Woodbine Station’s new interior renovation.

Absolute Towers’ Urban Works Contest, Fernbrook Homes and Cityzen Development Group, Toronto, 2009.

Finalist for Absolute Towers’ Urban Works public art competition

Front Street Design Competition, Concord Adex Developments, 2006.

Finalist for Concord CityPlace’s Front Street Beautification public art competition

Education

Advanced Diploma in Design, Furniture, Crafts & Design Program, Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Oakville, Ontario, 2003 - 2006

Three year intensive program covering design process, research methodology, manufacturing process and marketing. While a student, developed and initiated the Sheridan College & Nienkamper Internship Summer Scholarship Program. Winner of the Best in Show Award at the design graduation show in May 2006. Featured in the 2010 Sheridan College Graduate Success Stories Program, Rising Design Star Stands Out From the Crowd. Commissioned by Sheridan College to design Public Art for their new Mississauga Business Campus, opening Fall 2011. Chosen to give Alumni Address for Sheridan College's 2011 Convocation Ceremony.

Biochemistry, Ottawa University, Ottawa, Ontario, 1999 - 2000

Undergraduate studies in biochemistry with full scholarship from Ottawa University for my academic excellence, my community involvement and for my commitment for helping others

Skills

Bilingual in spoken and written English and French

Computer expertise in:
Rhinoceros 3D versions 3.0 & 4.0
AutoCAD (2D & 3D) versions 2003 - 2010
Adobe Suites 7.0 - CS3
3D Modeling, Rendering & Lighting Plug-ins including Rhino 3D, VRay, Flamingo, Penguin, Maxwell, EZCam

Technical expertise in:
Industrial fabrication, processes and production techniques
Outsourcing and coordination with various engineering and fabrication firms
All metal fabrication and woodworking tools for carving, shaping and machining elements
Technical material research, pricing and scheduling