For years, the public focus on the Evergreen Line project has been construction — stations, tracks, the tunnel.

Now, with less than a year until the SkyTrain line opens, eyes have turned skyward as trains do test runs.

But what will be a very visible part of the project is now getting some attention — and money.

The province announced this week it had awarded a $2.1-million contract to Coquitlam's Jack Cewe Ltd. for construction of the Burquitlam Station plaza, to be completed this summer, with more contracts to be awarded shortly for plazas at the five other stations.

For the public, the stations and pedestrian plazas will be the most visible part of the Evergreen Line project and there is much anticipation about what the landscaping, furniture, signage and public art will look like.

For now, the look and feel of the stations and public plazas are largely under wraps. The artists contributing public art have been told not to share images of designs or works in progress and the province doesn't have graphics or photos of what the signs, lighting or furniture will look like on the plazas.

What is known is that the stations are well lit with natural light, with lots of glass and natural wood in homage to B.C.'s forest industry. The province kicked in $300,000 for public art for the six stations. The cities are also expected to contribute, with Coquitlam's share being $50,000 derived from casino funds.

So until the work is revealed on or near opening day, here's what we do know, so far, gleaned from press releases and city reports:

• Burquitlam Station: This Coquitlam station is being designed as the heart of a new urban village to attract young families and students from nearby Simon Fraser University. It will likely provide hints to North Road's history as a major thoroughfare built by the Royal Engineers in the mid-1800s. On the plaza, Vancouver artist Mia Weinberg will be creating a granite piece titled "They Travelled These Roads," and inside the station will be a piece created from recycled materials titled "Burquitlam Between and Beyond" by artist Brent Bukowski, from Kaslo, B.C.

• Moody Centre Station: This station is near the city's historic centre and is expected to provide spectacular views of the north shore mountains and Port Moody inlet. It will be a busy hub with links to the West Coast Express, bus loops and bicycle facilities.

• Inlet Centre Station: Artwork has already been chosen for this station, which will consist of a steel and galvanized iron sculpture made of spherical shapes and columns called "Evergreen People," designed to represent both the male and female forms, as well as the city's diversity. The artists are Alberto Cerritos, Rosalina Cerritos and Jaime Torres.

• Coquitlam Central Station: Nestled in the trees and next to the West Coast Express and the main Coquitlam bus loop, this station's design and artwork will highlight First Nations culture and heritage. Kwikwetlem First Nations artists will provide interpretive art to complement a suspended canoe while Cranbrook artist Paul Reimer will create a recycled metal piece to greet passengers on the plaza.

• Lincoln Station: Located at northeastern corner of Coquitlam Centre mall, this station is surrounded by highrise residential development and is across the street from Coquitlam Public Library. Multiculturalism was one of the themes chosen for Lincoln Station to reflect the neighbourhood and Vancouver artists Bruce Walther and YarOn Stern were chosen to create a glass mosaic piece that will hang inside the station. Paul Slipper and Mary Ann Liu will create a granite piece for the plaza titled "Pillow Station."

• Lafarge Lake-Douglas College: This end-of-the-line station is located in the heart of Coquitlam's civic centre, next to Evergreen Cultural Centre and Town Centre Park, and close to city hall, the City Centre Aquatic Complex and Douglas College's David Lam Campus. A concrete piece titled "Translake" by Bowen Island artist Trent Hutton was chosen for the station plaza. Team Hopewell, a Vancouver artist team of Jarami Reid and Dean Cloutier, was chosen for the second work of art, titled "Archival Wall," inside the station and made from pine beetle wood.

Vancouver artists Bruce Walther and YarOn Stern will also create mosaic station identifiers for the Coquitlam stations.

Images and artist renderings of future stations are available, however, here.