Website: https://www.publicartist.org/call.cfm?id=2094
(806) 742-2116
Lubbock, TX, Unknown
The Texas Tech University System seeks to commission a professional artist to create site-specific exterior sculpture(s) to be placed outside the historic Weeks Hall, located at the Texas Tech University main campus entrance (2508 Broadway) in Lubbock, TX. Renovation of the facility will be completed by May 2020.
Budget: $236,000
Eligibility: Professional artists
Deadline: 12/20/2018 3:00 PM Central Time
Site History
Founded in 1923 as Texas Technological College, Texas Tech University has the distinction of being the largest comprehensive higher education institution in the western two-thirds of the state of Texas. Texas Tech’s campus boasts a strong tradition of Spanish Renaissance architecture, characterized by light-colored brick structures with stone accents and red tile roofs. More information about the architectural traditions of Texas Tech can be found at http://today.ttu.edu/2010/03/campus-architecture-history/ .
Weeks Hall was originally constructed in 1957 as a residence hall but has been vacant since 1991. The building will be renovated into office space for faculty, administration, and staff from various Texas Tech University departments. It is a three-story L shape structure of approximately 67,234 GSF and is listed on the Texas Historical Register. Departments that will utilize this building include:
Artwork Goals
Safety is imperative; durable, low-maintenance materials are recommended to withstand West Texas’ intense weather conditions. Weeks Hall is located at Texas Tech’s main entrance. The public art at this location has an opportunity to contribute significantly to the overall aesthetic on campus and could become a new icon for the university. See attachments for building and suggested public art location.
Ideal submissions can incorporate kinetic elements and/or the written word into the piece. This piece will be outdoors and available to the community. 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 collaboration, inquiry, curiosity, inclusivity, and the history of the university. This facility will be home to many different departments, so public art needs to have a broad appeal. Any concepts that may be considered polemic or political should be avoided. Artists should attempt to create a design that speaks to the diversity of the departments that will utilize this building, as well as the students that attend Texas Tech University.
Public art near this location include “Riding into the Sunset” by Electra Waggoner Biggs and “Park Place” by Glenna Goodacre.
Finalists will develop a design concept that reflects the standards and culture of Texas Tech specific to the Weeks Hall Renovation, and will prepare presentation materials, drawings, a model, and related specifications in sufficient detail and in the format required to convey the design intent.
Timeline
Texas Tech reserves the right to modify this schedule as required.
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. After evaluating the artists’ submissions, Texas Tech will narrow the pool of applicants to approximately two to five finalists to develop a design and model for presentation to the University Public Art Committee in Lubbock, Texas. Each finalist will be paid an honorarium of $2000 for the development of their Design Proposal and to facilitate travel for the presentation. The model will not be returned to the artist if they are selected. The Design Proposals will be subject to review and acceptance by Texas Tech University System’s University Public Art Committee, the President of Texas Tech University, and the Chancellor of the Texas Tech University System.
Selection Criteria
Specifically, in the selection of finalists, Texas Tech University System and its University Public Art Committee will review and consider the following:
What to Submit
How to Submit: Send materials ONLINE ONLY through PublicArtist.org, https://www.publicartist.org/call.cfm?id=2094
Additional Resources including full RFQ, site illustrations, and sample public art contract can be found at https://www.publicartist.org/call.cfm?id=2094
QUESTIONS? Contact Emily Wilkinson, Director of Public Art, (806) 742-2116 or emily.wilkinson@ttu.edu