Charlotte Douglas International Airport Seeks Public Art

Posted by Charlotte Douglas International Airport ; Posted on 
Public Art; Visual - DEADLINE :  
Charlotte Douglas International Airport Seeks Public Art
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Arts & Science Council (ASC) is accepting qualifications from professional artists and professional artist teams for multiple original and site-specific art commissions as part of the Terminal Lobby Expansion (TLE) Public Art Program at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT).

BUDGET:  $3,390,000 total; 6-7 opportunities available; individual project budgets range from a $30K design fee to a $1.7M all-inclusive commission budget; see below for details.

ELIGIBILITY:  All professional artists, in the U.S. and internationally.  Some commission-value eligibility restrictions apply; see below for details.

DEADLINE:  Friday, June 8, 2018 by 11:59 p.m. E.S.T.

The complete RFQ, including images, can be found at https://www.artsandscience.org/resources-for/artists/calls-to-artists/

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Thanks to continued and sustained growth, Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is operating at near capacity. Current projects focus on enhancing the CLT customer experience: a comprehensive, airport-wide, wayfinding master plan, and expansion and renovation of the airport’s main terminal lobby. CLT’s main terminal lobby will be expanded to the north to create additional space for security lanes, ticketing and baggage claim areas, as well as 370,000’-sq. of increased circulation space to accommodate the rapid growth CLT has experienced in recent years which has put a strain on the original terminal. For more information about the CLT Terminal Lobby Expansion project, including a brief video overview, please visit: https://www.greshamsmith.com/projects/charlotte-douglas-international-airport-(clt)

ARTIST ELIGIBILITY 

Eligible applicants must have successfully completed at least one prior art commission (public or private) within the past five years with a budget representing at least 40% of the TLE project area identified in applicant’s letter of interest—please see “HOW TO APPLY” section for more information. For a TLE project area with a $500,000 budget, for example, eligible artists must have completed at least one original art commission with a total associated budget of no less than $200,000 by the time of RFQ submittal. Please note: This last criterion does not apply to “Integrated Floor Art” commissions, for which there is no threshold budget requirement for past completed projects.

Architects interested in applying must have successfully completed at least three (3) public art projects that are distinguished from infrastructure design within the last five (5) years to be considered eligible to participate in this opportunity. Eligibility must be demonstrated in the application materials submitted. Artist teams must demonstrate prior experience designing and executing completed public art projects as the team described in the applicant’s submittal.

Applicants who have received a commission or purchase from ASC for over $25,000.00 cannot be considered for another commission or purchase for another 3 years after the date of a signed contract or letter of agreement. ASC staff, County or City staff, Public Art Commission members or their immediate families, are not eligible to apply for this project.

PROJECT BUDGET

A total budget of $3,390,000.00 has been allocated to commission multiple site-specific and permanent artworks to be integrated into the Terminal Lobby Expansion project. Individual project budgets vary in structure and scope depending on the scale and location of each opportunity.

All budgets listed in this RFQ fully include artist-design fees and associated travel costs, insurance, fabrication, storage, transportation and installation of the artwork on site with the following exception: artists receiving commissions for “Integrated Floor Art” will be paid a one-time design fee not to exceed $30,000.00. Fabrication and installation of the Integrated Floor Art project areas and associated costs will be managed as part of a separate budget by ASC staff working in close collaboration each commissioned artist, project architects and general-/sub-contractors.

ART PROGRAM SCOPE AND LOCATIONS

The CLT TLE Public Art Program is comprised of 6-7 opportunities for permanent integrated artworks, each with differing budgets dependent on the projects’ respective size, prominence of location, and anticipated material and fabrication needs. The final project locations and scopes identified in the RFQ will be determined by ASC in close collaboration with CLT Airport and the project design team, with careful consideration of input from the selected artists or artist teams.

Please refer to the individual project descriptions below for a more complete understanding of the various TLE art project areas, objectives and associated budgets.

1)    Suspended Artwork at Ticketing/Departures Level, Pre-Security. Budget: $1,725,000.00 for 1 artist or artist team. Up to 2 potential locations.

Opportunity for large-scale, signature artwork suspended from the ceiling of the Terminal Lobby at the East, and potentially West wings of pre-TSA check passenger circulation. The artwork will be accessible by ticketed customers and the general public alike. The primary goals of this opportunity are:

  • To create a signature artwork for CLT Airport and the City of Charlotte public art collection.
  • To support wayfinding goals of CLT Airport and Terminal Lobby Expansion plan.
  • Equally effective both day and night; effectively engage multiple sightlines including exterior views furnished by floor-to-ceiling glass curtain walls at location.
  • Designed specifically for the airport environment and in consideration of specific architectural features, anticipated programming & uses, and general character of TLE.

Artist may engage designated areas at both East and West Wings of Lobby, or may choose to focus primarily on the East Wing. In either case the artwork may not significantly obscure or obstruct the views of Charlotte’s “Uptown” City skyline furnished by glass curtain wall at East Wing.

2)    Integrated Floor Art at Ticketing and Baggage Levels (Terrazzo) & surfaces of Pedestrian Bridge.  Artist design fee: $30,000.00 per artist for 2 or 3 artists.  Up to 3 potential locations.

An exciting opportunity to contribute a memorable design motif to be integrated into the refurbished lobby floors at both Ticketing (Departures) and Baggage (Arrivals) Levels, with a potential third opportunity to engage the surfaces and underside of two Pedestrian Bridges that will connect Terminal Lobby to Daily Parking Decks. The primary goals of this project are to assist customer wayfinding and to enrich the overall customer experience in a surprising and readily accessible way.

  • Opportunity 2A: Ticketing Level terrazzo designs
  • Opportunity 2B: Artist-designed elements (pavers or embedded materials suitable for a semi-exterior environment) to be installed in the surfaces and underside of two Pedestrian Bridges. Both Bridges present a semi-exterior environment that will be covered by a large glass canopy designed to shield traffic, but will allow direct sunlight to filter through year-round.
  • Opportunity 3C: Baggage Level terrazzo to include one “medallion” at each entry/exit portal for a total of 4 medallions.

Fabrication and installation of terrazzo and associated costs will be managed by ASC working in close collaboration with commissioned artists, project architects, general contractors and CLT management as part of a separate budget.

3)    Domestic Arrivals / Welcome Wall at Arrivals Level, Post-Security.  Budget: $550,000.00 for 1 artist.

This is an opportunity for a 2-dimensional mural or 3-dimensional applied wall art / frieze installation intended to greet domestic passengers before they descend to the Baggage Level to either exit the airport or await their luggage. The commissioned artist will create a strong visual presence to engage the end walls of two symmetrical, vertically oriented-elevator wells. The primary goals of this opportunity are:

  • To establish a strong, yet welcoming visual presence that celebrates domestic travelers’ journey.
  • To assist with customer wayfinding experience by guiding travelers down symmetrical escalator wells toward Baggage Level and the Terminal Lobby exit portals.

4)    International Arrivals / Welcome Wall.  Budget: $525,000.00 for 1 artist.

2-Dimensional mural or 3-Dimensional applied wall art / frieze opportunity at end of FIS corridor; potential for art application on adjacent support columns. The message “welcome to Charlotte” shown in the image represents preliminary design goals and is not a literal representation of the desired final artwork. However, this opportunity does represent a great opportunity for text based artworks, or artists that incorporate text into their work as evidenced by submitted portfolio of works. Goals for this location are as follows:

  • To establish a strong, yet welcoming visual presence that celebrates international travelers’ arrival to Charlotte, North Carolina and the surrounding region.
  • To reinforce TLE wayfinding plan by marking transition from FIS corridor to TLE Baggage/Arrivals Level.

5)    Subterranean Walkways.  Budget: $500,000.00 for 1 artist.

2-Dimensional mural or 3-Dimensional applied wall art for two underground walkways connecting daily parking decks to terminal lobby (via elevator back up). There are two art wall locations per walkway, totaling four art wall locations for the entire opportunity. Goals for this location are as follows:

  • Alleviate underground/tunnel feeling of program area using creative artistic applications.
  • Potential artistic strategies for this location may include but are not limited introducing a theme or impression of the outdoors, nature, or panoramic landscape(s); abstract or geometric works are welcomed as well.
  • Contribute to a calming and welcoming environment for pedestrians.

TLE ART PROGRAM GOALS

The art opportunities described in the TLE RFQ have been carefully programmed by ASC in close coordination with project architects Gresham, Smith & Partners and DAS Architecture. The TLE Public Art Program has been conceived to function seamlessly within a comprehensive wayfinding masterplan and the unique context of daily airport operations. Additionally, the program intends to show sensitivity to the presence and history of Kaskey’s Queen Charlotte, which has become an iconic figure for the City of Charlotte and nearly synonymous with the airport itself. The overall goals of the TLE Art Program are to enhance the customer experience and support overall customer utilization, programming and wayfinding plans associated with the Terminal Lobby Expansion.

While the program has no specific theme, extensive discussion with design team members and project stakeholders have yielded the following concepts that may be considered by commissioned artists:

  • Aviation/Flight.
  • Textiles/historic regional milling industry.
  • Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Charlotte’s nickname as the “Queen City”.
  • Local and Regional histories, industries and crafting traditions.
  • Local/Regional flora & fauna.
  • Travels, journeys, voyaging.
  • Joy/wonder/whimsy.
  • Southern Hospitality.
  • Elegant yet accessible.

The above themes are by no means comprehensive and are intended to aid artist applicants in gauging their interest in the project, as well as to aid in the selection of relevant and compelling past projects in support of applicants’ submissions to the RFQ.

ARTIST SELECTION

This solicitation process is being undertaken to enable the Public Art Commission to identify the most highly qualified artists for this opportunity. An artist selection panel comprised of local and national arts professionals and community stakeholders appointed by the Public Art Commission will review eligible application, determine a shortlist of finalists, interview three to five finalists and select one artist or team of artists. The selected artist or team of artists will be recommended to the Public Art Commission and the Board of ASC for final approval and contracting.

The commissioned artist or artist team will collaborate with a Design Team consisting of ASC Public Art staff, CLT Aviation Architects and stakeholders, Gresham, Smith & Partners, and DAS Architecture. Exemplary communication and time management skills will be essential to the success of this project.

PROJECT SCHEDULE

Artist Selection

  • April 30, 2018:  CLT Terminal Lobby Expansion RFQ published.
  • June 8, 2018:  Artist application submission deadline.
  • June 15, 2018:  Committee reviews applications and selects 3 finalists per opportunity.
  • July 20, 2018:  Committee interviews finalists; awards 1 artist contract per opportunity.

Design Development

  • September 26, 2018:  Concept Design Proposal for Public Art Commission (PAC) review.
  • November 28, 2018:  Schematic Design Proposal for PAC review.
  • January 23, 2019:  Final Design for PAC review; notice to proceed with Fabrication upon PAC approval.

Fabrication & Installation*

  • 2020:  Tentative: Site-preparation, installation phases begin. *
  • 2020-2021:  Tentative: TLE Project Completion. *

*Dates provided are estimates based upon ASC’s current knowledge of preliminary project schedules and are only intended to assist artists in determining their own availability to participate in the program. Above dates in no way represent final approved schedules and are subject to change through future iterations of design and construction phases.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Artists will be selected based on the following criteria, as evidenced in application materials and conversations with listed references:

  • Artistic merit in concept and fabrication as demonstrated in submitted work samples.
  • Documented experience in design development and management of fabrication and installation of permanent artworks specifically commissioned for and successfully integrated into new construction and/or architectural renovation projects.
  • Proven ability to collaborate in the early phases of project development with design team members.
  • Proven ability to present and articulate all conceptual, material and logistical aspects of proposals for public art to diverse stakeholders including but not limited to: commissioning agency staff, project managers and/or owners, community stakeholders and local press.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications must be received via SlideRoom (https://asc.slideroom.com) by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2018. There is no application fee to apply or use the SlideRoom online application system. The following materials will be required to be uploaded to SlideRoom:

  • A letter of interest (1-page maximum) outlining applicant’s general interest in the project stating applicant’s preference for at least one (maximum 3) project areas identified in the “ART PROGRAM SCOPE AND LOCATIONS” section above, with a brief statement explaining why. Applicant(s) may apply as a single artist or team. If applying as a team, identify all team members and their proposed project roles (e.g. lead artist, technical consultant, programmer, etc.) Please note: Artist teams must have completed at least one prior project as the team described in applicant’s letter of interest; newly formed partnerships with no demonstrable experience working as such will not be considered, without exception.
  • A current professional resume or CV (two pages maximum). If applying as a team, submit a one‐to‐two-page résumé for each team member.
  • Three professional references who can speak to applicant's ability to meet deadlines, work with community, and create innovative work as part of a design team.  Include name, organization, phone number, and email.
  • No more than eight (8) images of related artwork completed within the past fifteen (15) years.  Please provide the following (if applicable) for each image: the name of the artist(s), title of work, date, media, dimensions of work, description of site, client, and budget.  This information may be submitted as a separate document or may be inserted into each image caption on SlideRoom.

Please note: unrealized project proposals such as drawings, renderings and written descriptions of rejected submittals or commissions at less than 70% completion at time of submission will not be considered, without exception.

SLIDEROOM TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Applicants can receive SlideRoom technical support by emailing support@slideroom.com, or by accessing the online help desk: https://support.slideroom.com.

QUESTIONS? Contact Marcus Mitchell at (704) 330-0196 or by email at marcus.mitchell@artsandscience.org.