The Sedona Main Street Program is
proud to nominate the Hyatt Piñon Pointe’s program of plaques honoring
Sedona history as the state’s Best Public Improvement Project.
Hyatt Piñon Pointe is a new resort in
Sedona with a 32,000 SF retail center. When the open-air retail center
was designed by architect John Sather of Swaback Partners of Phoenix, he
incorporated several recessed ‘niches’ in the exterior walls of the
pedestrian space. As the building neared completion, John and Hyatt
Piñon Pointe management agreed that informative plaques of Sedona
history stories were more what they desired than advertising signs or
even artwork. Phase I, completed in fall of 2004, resulted in 8
attractive metal plaques incorporating brief stories and historic photos
all provided by the Sedona Historical Society/Sedona Heritage Museum.
The plaques proved to be so popular, that Hyatt Piñon Pointe management
asked for an additional 8 plaques that were installed in May 2005.
In Phase I, John Sather and Janeen
Trevillyan, President of the Sedona Historical Society (SHS), outlined
several Sedona historic themes. Janeen wrote the text and found the
historic photos from the SHS archives that illustrated the stories. An
Arizona-based vendor produced the approximately 2’x 2’ plaques. The
production process and final product are multi-tiered. (See attached
sample drawing). The signs are painted metal with a combination of
cut-out and silk-screened text. The photos are a ‘photo metal’ image
mounted in a slightly raised position to the main sign, which adds a
3-dimensional element for interest. Two of the plaques acknowledge and
promote the work of the Sedona Historical Society and the Sedona
Heritage Museum.
Sedona’s rich and unique history is
not always one of the first things that visitors and even residents
think of when thinking of “the Sedona experience”. These plaques have
proved to be an attraction, and to be educational to both the local and
visiting audience. They have stimulated interest in Sedona’s history
and have been excellent exposure and publicity for SHS and their Sedona
Heritage Museum. This project led to an on-going relationship between
SHS and Hyatt Piñon Pointe, which now includes the Hyatt participating
in the Museum’s ‘bulk’ ticket program.
The Hyatt Piñon Pointe spent
approximately $20,000 on design and production of these high-quality
metal plaques. In addition they made a significant cash donation to the
Sedona Historical Society in recognition of their contribution of time
and resources.
On average, several hundred people
pass by these history story plaques every day as they wander through
this retail plaza and shop or visit the three eateries. Both phases of
the project are only just completed. Summer is a relatively slow time
for visitors and many residents are gone for part of the summer. In
light of these factors, the Hyatt Piñon Pointe and SHS plan a formal
celebration of this special project for fall 2005 to honor local history
and to recognize their new found partnership.
Both these organizations are Sedona
Main Street Program members.
Photos included with Nomination
