On Wednesday, Aug. 6, Sterling Heights Mayor and City Council helped local designer Leslie Dorchen cut the ribbon on the City’s latest public art installation. The back-lit art, featuring the Sterling Heights Fire Department badge, the American flag and silhouettes of three firefighters, is located on north and south sides of the Fire Station #1 clock tower at 38911 Van Dyke Ave.
“These new back-lit art designs in our clock tower not only honor the spirit of our first responders, they also bring a colorful, welcoming glow to the fire station,” said Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor. “And they illuminate not just the clock tower, but also the spirit of service that defines our fire department and the first responders who protect this community every day."
Dorchen was commissioned by the Sterling Heights Arts Commission to design this installation to enhance this public space and spark community creativity and conversation. Dorchen has degrees in interior design and architectural design and more than 25 years of interior design and construction experience.
“I wanted to include the fire department’s patch and the American flag in the design, because firefighters are American heroes, and I wanted to honor that with the graphic treatment I used for this piece,” said Dorchen. “I also feel a strong connection to this space because my father and co-founder of Dorchen/Martin Associates, Sam Dorchen, designed Fire Station #1 which was built back in 2002. I’m so honored to have my work become a part of something he worked on because I’ve always wanted to follow in his footsteps in some way.”
This latest public art installation is part of the City’s broader commitment to enhancing quality of life by adding beauty and character to city spaces and creating distinctive areas and focal points within our community. The newly installed clock tower art sparks connection to our Fire Department and helps to humanize the built environment.