Request for Qualifications – Storybrook Park Artwork
This opportunity to apply is CLOSED. Proposals were due July 12, 2024.
We are seeking a qualified artist or artist team to design, fabricate and install artwork in a neighborhood park called Storybrook Park. Storybrook Park is a 5.77-acre former residential property located at 2927 W. Maplewood Avenue in the Birchwood Neighborhood. The City has established a budget of up to $27,000 for artwork fabrication and installation in five to seven locations in the park. Late submissions will not be considered.
Project Background
Artwork in public places reinforces the City’s status as a regional arts destination, increases quality of life and attracts tourism and visitors to the area. The City is seeking an artist or artist team to utilize a minimum of five or up to seven pre-identified locations (see Project and Site Description) to complement the natural setting and create a magical, exploratory journey of artwork discovery in the idyllic Storybrook neighborhood park. Each piece should be thematically connected or collectively tell a story as the visitor traverses the site. The artwork must be durable, low maintenance, and safe.
Project Contact
For questions, contact Taylor Webb, Development Specialist, at tkwebb@cob.org or 1-360-778-8311.
Location
Storybrook Park is a 5.77-acre former residential property located at 2927 W. Maplewood Avenue in the Birchwood Neighborhood:
Phase One Park Improvements
Phase One design has been completed. The following park improvements are included in Phase One:
- 3,953 sf accessible, age-separated playground with whimsical thematic elements;
- 754’ new accessible trail;
- 548’ existing trail improvements to accessibility standards;
- Improved 251’ emergency & maintenance access & trail;
- Improved lines of sight, park lights & careful clearing;
- 4 picnic tables; 5 park benches; kiosk & other signage;
- Stormwater; water & electrical utilities;
- Lawn & tree planting;
- Mitigating impacts to 4 wetland buffers with barriers, planting 767 trees & shrubs, & weed removal. Impacts to wetlands have been avoided.
- Proposed bicycle & pedestrian improvements, including painted bike lanes, curb, gutter and sidewalks are being added to enhance pedestrian sidewalk connection to residents along West Maplewood to the southeast.
The park contains four delineated wetlands and associated buffers encumbering roughly 72% of the park area. Slopes vary between 2% to 50%. Existing trail grades vary between 2% and 20%.
Phase One Design and Construction Plan
Potential locations for artwork can be seen in this Phase I Illustrative Site Plan. View additional details, including site photos, in the RFQ.
Funding
There is $27,000 is available for this project. Costs may include expenses related to, and not limited to: documentation, meetings, presentations, planning, site investigation, design, engineering, permitting, fabrication, and installation of the artwork, including incidentals such as: food, lodging, per diem, travel, engineered drawings and calculations, overhead and profit, bonding and insurance, supervision, labor, equipment and materials, communications, reproduction, mock ups, permits, etc.
Preparation Costs
The City of Bellingham shall not be responsible for qualification submittal preparation costs, including oral interviews (if held), nor for costs including attorney fees associated with any challenge to the determination of the highest ranked proposer and/or award of contract and /or rejection of qualification submittal. By sending a submittal of qualifications, each proposer agrees to be bound in this respect and waives all claims to such costs and fees.
- A jury comprised of neighborhood stakeholders, Arts Commission members and City staff will review and rank all Request for Qualification submittals based upon the selection criteria outlined below.
- The jury will select no more than four semi-finalists from Request for Qualification submittals.
- Semi-finalists will receive a packet of specifications regarding site locations, design criteria and any design limitations or requirements.
- Semi-finalists will be invited to submit a conceptual idea for consideration in the form of a rendering or illustration.
- Upon submission and presentation of a specific design proposal, semi-finalists will receive a stipend of $700 for travel and design fees.
- The jury will rank the semi-finalist proposals and the rankings will be reviewed by the Arts Commission. The Arts Commission will make a formal recommendation to select an artist/ team and the final decision will be made by the Mayor. Once the Mayor approves a finalist, the artist/team will enter into a contract for services with the City.
- The City reserves the right to terminate negotiations with any artist should it be in the City’s best interest.
- Request for Qualifications deadline: July 12, 2024
- Semi-finalists contacted: End of July, 2024
- Deadline for semi-finalist submittals: Mid-September, 2024
- Semi-finalists interviews/meetings: End of September, 2024
- Review of semi-finalist rankings by Bellingham Arts Commission: October 2024
- Final design review by Bellingham Arts Commission: November 2024
- Mayor review of final design: December 2024
- Final artist/artist team announced: December 2024
- Draft contract complete: December 2024
- Contract execution: January 2025
- Timing for the installation of the artwork will be determined during the contracting process with the selected artist and in conjunction with the Storybrook Park Phase One Construction Plan.
The selected professional artist or artist team will develop, fabricate and install artwork at 5 or more of the described locations, in coordination with the Parks Department Project Lead. To be considered for this Request for Qualifications, the artist or team must meet the following criteria:
- Experience designing, fabricating, and installing public artwork, preferably projects for government agencies.
- The ability to furnish all supplies, materials and equipment necessary for the design, execution, fabrication, transportation and installation of the artwork at this location.
- Willingness to provide professional documentation photos at conclusion of the project.
- Ability to perform the requested work within the desired timeline.
- The ability to provide proof of required insurance and an endorsement listing the City as additional insured during the duration of the project. Coverage shall include:
- Workers Compensation: Statutory Amount
- Broad Form Comprehensive Liability: $1,000,000/occurrence
- Automobile Liability: $1,000,000
- $2,000,000 aggregate
Submission Timeline
Proposals must be submitted electronically via a single PDF to Taylor Webb, Development Specialist: tkwebb@cob.org before 11 a.m. on July 12, 2024.
Submittal Requirements
To apply, submit the following information via email within a single pdf document:
- Letter of interest addressing the approach and understanding of this public art project.
- Resume(s), including name, address, phone number, e-mail address and website (if available) for all members of the team, descriptions of previous work and/or relevant employment.
- Description of previous public art installations, including technical skills, challenges and successes with each project. Include web links or color images of previous relevant work with annotated image descriptions if available.
- Description of schedule management and ability to meet the timeline proposed.
- Two professional references for each team member.
- Qualification submittals will be evaluated and ranked on the following criteria and available points.
- Artist / Artist Team qualification & experience: 0-30 points
- Project approach and understanding: 0-30 points
- Quality of previous work: 0-20 points
- Schedule and management: 0-20 points
- Total possible score: 100 points
Request for Qualifications – Public Works Operations
This opportunity to apply is CLOSED! FINALIST ANNOUNCED: Clayton Binkley
More information about the artist and proposed artwork will be released in 2025.
Past Opportunities
Traffic Box Artwork – Original artwork installed on ten traffic boxes located in downtown. The goal of the project was to reinforce a sense of place while adding beauty and interest to the streetscape. Completed in 2024 with a budget of $500 for each image selected and installed.
Sculpture Procurement for Neighborhood Park – The selected work will be a fabricated sculpture for the installation in a small community park. The installation is anticpated to occur in late fall of 2023, with a budget of $15,000.00
Cordata Roundabout – The selected artwork will be installed on the roundabout that sits at Horton Road and Cordata Parkway, which is the gateway to existing and future housing and is near the 25-acre Cordata Park. The project is anticipated to be completed by late fall of 2023, with a budget of $80,000.00 – $95,000.00.
Birchwood Avenue Mural – The selected mural will cover the underpass adjacent to the Bay to Baker Trail, near the hospital staff parking lot. The project is anticipated to be completed by early fall of 2023, with a budget of $70,000.00
Public Works Vehicle Barn – The selected artwork will be attached to undulating metal at the future site of the Public Works Vehicle Barn, 2200 Nevada Street. The artwork will be located along the Virginia Street side of the building, which is 38’L x 31.5’H (at the tallest point), and a long section of vehicle door bays. The site is adjacent to industrial buildings and a bike path/trail connection. The project is anticipated to be completed in the winter of 2022 with a budget of $50,000.
Anamorphic Mural – A mural in the alley behind 1300 Commercial Street, on the columns of the public parking garage to enhance the alley adjacent to the public parking garage. The installation area included eleven concrete columns and two aggregate panels. Completed in 2019 with a budget of $5,000.
Traffic Box Artwork – Original artwork installed on six traffic boxes located in the downtown Arts District. The goal of the project was to reinforce a sense of place and enhance the identity of the district while adding beauty and interest to the streetscape. Completed in 2019 with a budget of $500 for each image selected and installed.
N Forest Street – Create and install artwork on two retaining walls along the southern portion of N. Forest Street (between E. Ivy and Rose Streets. Estimated to be completed in 2021 with a budget of $15,000.00.
Resources
Contacts
Shannon Taysi at staysi@cob.org or 360-778-8360
