Texas Tech University Seeks Art for Health Sciences Center Campus

Posted by Texas Tech University ; Posted on 
Public Art; Visual - DEADLINE :  
Texas Tech University Seeks Art for Health Sciences Center Campus
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The Texas Tech University System seeks to commission a professional artist to create a site-specific exterior installation to be placed in front of the new Lubbock Education, Research, and Technology Facility, located at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center campus in Lubbock, TX. Construction of the facility will be completed by summer of 2019.

Budget: $530,500 all-inclusive

Eligibility: All professional artists are eligible. Artists are allowed to apply in teams. Artists applying as a team must split the allotted number of work examples between themselves.

Deadline: 10/25/2017 3:00 PM Central Time

Site History
The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center campus in Lubbock offers students the opportunity to expand knowledge in five schools that are on the forefront of health care education. Their programs and facilities give students the opportunity for hands-on research and clinical experience, and various collaborations with community entities provide students the practical knowledge that is vital to their success. Schools include Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and a graduate school of Biomedical Sciences. To learn more about the campus, visit: https://www.ttuhsc.edu/lubbock/

Artwork Location Description
In June 2017, TTU broke ground for new buildings that will bring additional opportunities for education and research initiatives plus create a more seamless campus experience for students and visitors. The project consists of three parts: a north expansion that will create two new buildings north of the existing TTUHSC building, a west expansion that will add additional facilities to the existing TTUHSC building, and the creation of a boulevard entrance to campus for accessibility. The building will house state-of-the-art research laboratories, translational research facilities classrooms, offices, new technology and equipment, and other infrastructure upgrades.This construction project is the largest that has been undertaken since the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center began 50 years ago. The new construction will provide students with the best educational experience possible with the best technology possible. To learn more about the project, visit: http://www.ttuhsc.edu/construction/lubbock/

Artwork Goals
The exterior art will be located in front of the north expansion portion of the project, outside of the entrance to University Center building, and should be visible from the boulevard entrance. The art in this area will greet visitors as they arrive to the TTUHSC Lubbock campus and should help to “activate” the area by creating a welcoming, positive, and calming space.

Safety is imperative; durable, low-maintenance materials are recommended to withstand daily foot-traffic of faculty, staff, students, and visitors to the Facility. This piece should be outdoors and available to the community; ideal submissions should be designed to make the maximum impact in a large outdoor space. More literal and traditional art is desired. Water features are highly discouraged, but the selected artist will have an opportunity to collaborate with landscape architects for the project.

Among relevant concepts to consider are helping others, touching lives, inclusivity, and hope. Artists should also consider the TTUHSC motto “your life, our purpose.” This is an innovative medical facility, so also consider the imagery of a big, blue sky – breaking boundaries, thinking outside of the box, and innovative thinking. Pieces that are considered too abstract should be avoided.

This public art piece should not only consider what is going on in the building, but also be inclusive of all of the sciences and medical disciplines located within the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Any concepts that may be considered polemic or political should be avoided. Artists should attempt to create a design that speaks to the diversity that a university such as the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center campus in Lubbock brings to the community.

Application Requirements

  • Cover sheet:  see PDF form
  • Resume: 2 page(s) maximum
  • Work examples: 5 - 15
  • Artist Statement: 500 word maximum
  • Letter of Interest: 500 word maximum.  Please describe your initial impressions of and projected approach to this public art project for the Lubbock Education, Research & Technology Building's interior piece. Specifically, please address your thoughts on location and medium and, if applicable, discuss any projects for which you used a similar approach.
  • References: 3
  • OPTIONAL:  Concept sketch

Selection Process
Texas Tech will select the Artist that best meets the requirements, based on the information contained in their response to the Request for Qualifications, any reference checks conducted, and the information presented during any interviews conducted as part of the selection process.

In order to be considered, submissions must comply with the requirements outlined in this document. Objects that are mass-produced or of standard manufacture are not eligible for consideration. Selected finalists will receive a maximum of $3000 for travel and design fees following the submission and presentation of a Design Proposal and a model.  Finalists will develop a design concept that reflects the standards and culture of Texas Tech specific to the TTUHSC Lubbock campus, and will prepare presentation materials, drawings, a model, and related specifications in sufficient detail and in the format required to convey the design intent.

Selection Criteria
Specifically, in the selection of finalists, Texas Tech University System and its University Public Art Committee will review and consider the following:

1. The conceptual basis for the Artist’s body of work as defined in the written statement.
2. The quality – technical and aesthetic – of the artist’s past work as represented in the image submissions.
3. The experience of the artist in successfully designing, fabricating, administering, and completing public art projects and/or custom architectural elements on time and in budget.
4. The artist’s training and education.
5. The quality and comprehensiveness of the submission package.

Timeline

  • Post RFQ: September 20, 2017
  • Written Questions/Inquiries must be received by: October 5, 2017
  • Responses to Inquiries: October 9, 2017
  • Artist Submissions due: 3:00 PM, CDT, October 25, 2017
  • Finalist(s) selected and notified: November/December 2017
  • Finalist(s) design Presentations: February/March 2018
  • Commission awarded: TBD
  • Project Completion: June 2019

Texas Tech reserves the right to modify this schedule as required.

How to Submit

Apply online via PublicArtist:  https://www.publicartist.org/artist/call.cfm?id=1525 No emailed, mailed, or file transfer applications will be accepted!

QUESTIONS?  Contact Emily Wilkinson, Director of Public Art, emily.wilkinson@ttu.edu or 806-742-2116