Have you been to Surrey Central SkyTrain station recently?

We’ve just unveiled a butterfly mural on the hoarding—or temporary fence—surrounding the Surrey Central Station Upgrades construction site.

Thomas Nelles, a Surrey artist, was the winner of an open call to artist to create a temporary mural. The theme chosen to inspire artists for their concepts was “Connecting People, Connecting Places.”

Nelles’ two-part artwork is titled Chrysalis and Butterfly Locomotion; Camouflaged.

Chrysalis, attached above the pedestrian walkway on City Parkway, is named for the stage that a caterpillar sheds its cocoon and transforms into a butterfly.

Butterflies have long been recognized as a metaphor for transformation. Nelles uses this imagery to symbolize the Surrey’s transformation from its agricultural past to its urban present and its goals for a sustainable future.

It also refers to SkyTrain’s history and its relationship to the city’s growth. SkyTrain arrived in Surrey with Scott Road Station in 1990 and Gateway, Surrey Central and King George stations opened in 1994.

The butterfly concept extends to Butterfly Locomotion; Camouflaged where a butterfly’s wings are designed as if seen through a kaleidoscope.

The mural, which is printed on mesh fabric and attached to the fencing surrounding the construction site, encourages viewers to see through it into the construction site. Its goal is to show change in a positive way, and its multiple variations of the butterfly speak to how every individual is part of Surrey’s growth.

To learn more about the Chrysalis and Nelles, click here.

Construction update

It’s full steam ahead at Surrey Central Station! Construction crews have installed site hoarding, poured the elevator and escalator foundation, relocated underground storm, sewer, irrigation and power utilities, and excavated the new stationhouse footings. Check out the photos:

When complete, a new north stationhouse with three additional escalators, new stairs and an additional elevator will make the station more accessible and convenient for our customers. It will also connect to a reconfigured bus exchange to make it easier to connect to and from the SkyTrain system.

Stay tuned for more updates on the project! For more information about Surrey Central Station upgrades, visit translink.ca/surreycentral.