South Monroe (SoMo) Walls Project

After taking a break for the month of June, we are back and excited to bring you our July Newsletter! 

Walls Art Collaborative 

Metal welder, Ian Gallo, is working diligently on his aluminum sculpture for the SoMo Walls. The Warrior Goddess statue is made of aluminum and will stand 15 feet tall on the grounds of our project. We are already impressed by the intricacy of the sculpture's face and are thrilled to receive updates on his work. 

During Ian's short time back in Tallahassee, we were able to interview him about his personal inspiration and his thoughts on the importance of art within the community. We videoed the entire interview and are looking forward to sharing it with the public very soon! 

This month, we utilized our social media platforms to further connect with the community of Tallahassee. Every Wednesday, we post a short explanation of our values, mission statements, and goals. And every Friday, we choose an international or local street artist to highlight. We post one of their murals and explain the inspiration behind it.

By personally connecting to our community via social media, we hope to strengthen our relationship with the people of Tallahassee. Together, we can add value to our city through the establishment of new businesses and the encouragement of creative expression.

Check out our Instagram and Facebook for weekly artistic inspiration. 

Awards / Recognitions

We have amazing news to share! Our project was featured in Florida's Flamingo Magazine. The article specifically highlights Conn Architects while focusing on the development process and vision of our project. 

Directly from the Flamingo magazine: 

"Demirel recently broke ground on the project, which is inspired by Miami's Wynwood Walls. It consists of two buildings lined with patios and a large green space featuring walls that will be covered in changing murals. The development will be populated with a mix of businesses designed to draw people in 18 hours a day and also hopes to pull foot traffic in from nearby Cascades Park. In the construction phase, nearly half of Demirel's contractors are minority businesses, far outstripping the city Community Redevelopment Authority's requirement of at least 10%. Demirel's application for Community Redevelpment Authority money drew community attention, Gina Conn said, and he welcomed it." 

And, that's not all! The Summer 2022 edition of the Florida/Caribbean Architect magazine also highlights Conn Architects and their perspective on post-pandemic architecture. 

Check out a digital version of the article below! 

Shifting Gears  

Site construction has officially begun, and we are thrilled to bring you updated pictures and information! The beginning stages of construction include leveling the site and creating building pads for future foundation construction. Pads are also being created for sidewalks in the area. And, our team will soon be organizing site slopes for storm water discharge. 

What's next? 

As construction continues this month, we can expect to see physical changes and regular activity on our project site. 

To stay up to date on everything SoMo Walls, be sure to join our mailing list and follow us on social media!