The Utah Public Art Program of the Division of Arts and Museums, in association with the Division of Facilities and Construction Management and the University of Utah is seeking artists interested in creating site specific art installation for the new Applied Sciences Facility in Salt Lake City, Utah. Artists from Utah are encouraged to submit letters of interest and qualifications for the creation of public artwork for the new Applied Sciences Facility at the University of Utah. This project is also open to any resident US artist.

THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH SCHOOL OF APPLIED SCIENCES NEW FACIILITY 

This facility, a 40,700 square-foot renovation of the historic William Stewart Building and a 100,000 square-foot addition, will house the Department of Physics & Astronomy and the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, focusing on aerospace, semiconductor technology, biotechnology, data science, hazardous weather forecasting, and air quality. When completed this project will significantly increase capacity for experimental and computer labs.

The Stewart Building (and its related future additions) are within the “Science Yard,” an existing pedestrian corridor extending from Pioneer Memorial Theatre to the Marriott Library. The Crocker Science Center (completed in 2018), along with the renovation and expansion of the Stewart Building, may potentially extend the Science Yard to Presidents Circle. The Science Yard is intended to be a core gathering space in the heart of the west campus that can be used to facilitate connection and interdisciplinary collaboration between the sciences. It can be used as a space for outdoor classes and informal gatherings, serving as a simple open space that connects the academic buildings around it.

History of the Stewart Building
In 1915, the Utah State Legislature began setting aside funds for the construction of a teacher training building at the University of Utah, which was to house the Normal School (later the Education Department). During World War I, the University was designated as a training camp for the Student Army Training Corps (SATC). This designation, made in 1918, meant that the University was obligated to house and feed a military unit of approximately 1,250 men. The local architectural firm of Young & Hansen designed what would become the Stewart Building for that initial purpose—but with the intent of later converting it to the Normal School. This building housed the Stewart Training School from 1919 until 1966. It was officially named the William M. Stewart Building in 1968.
 

THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH SCHOOL OF APPLIED SCIENCES

The Department of Physics & Astronomy and the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, together, teach more than 5,600 students and house 46 faculty members.

The University of Utah's Department of Physics & Astronomy is committed to pursuing key science questions within an inclusive academic community; to training and diversifying the next generation of researchers, educators, and technology workforce leaders; and to inspiring an appreciation for knowledge in students and the wider community. The department’s goal is that organizations and individuals in the local and global community will benefit from their research and accomplishments. www.physics.utah.edu/

 The University of Utah Department of Atmospheric Sciences (ATMOS) is the leading program of weather and climate related research and education in the Intermountain West and is recognized internationally for its expertise in cloud-climate interactions, mountain meteorology, climate physics and dynamics, weather and climate modeling, and tropical meteorology. The research and teaching within ATMOS provide the knowledge and tools needed by society to address the challenges posed by hazardous weather and climate change in the 21st century. ATMOS considers itself a student-centered department with faculty who are dedicated graduate student mentors and classroom instructors. https://atmos.utah.edu/

THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH and SALT LAKE CITY

The University of Utah (U of U, UofU) is a public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the flagship institution of the Utah System of Higher Education. The University of Utah is an accredited four-year research university. It organizes its 150 academic departments and programs into 17 colleges and schools. As of Fall 2020, there were 24,643 undergraduate students and 8,404 graduate students, for an enrollment total of 33,047.

The campus is 1,534 acres (6.21 km2), including the Health Sciences complex, Research Park, and Fort Douglas. It is located on the east bench of the Salt Lake Valley, close to the Wasatch Range and overlooks downtown Salt Lake City, the valley, and the Great Salt Lake. 

The History of the University of Utah (U of U)
In 1847, Brigham Young (second president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) organized a Board of Regents to establish a university for the region. The University was established on February 28, 1850, as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret. The U of U is Utah's oldest institution of higher education.

Salt Lake City - The land now known as Utah was first inhabited by the ancient Pueblo people, sometimes referred to as the Anasazi. Later, the Ute Tribe, which the state is named for, settled in the area centered around the Provo Valley. Other Native American peoples like the Shoshone, Navajo, Paiute, and Goshute also call the area home.

The area was first surveyed by US Army Officer John C. Fremont in 1843. Emigration Canyon, just south of the U of U campus, was the main path of explorers, migrants, and others into Salt Lake for many years. Salt Lake City was founded on July 24, 1847, by a group of pioneers that were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1869, the transcontinental railroad was completed by the driving of the Golden Spike at Promontory Summit, some 80 miles northwest of Salt Lake City, Utah.

Salt Lake City is the capital and most populous city of Utah, as well as the seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in Utah. With an estimated population of 200,567 in 2019. The city is the core of the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a population of 1,222,540 (2018 estimate).
 

COMMITTEE STATEMENT

The University of Utah Applied Sciences Facility Art Selection Committee encourages artists to consider the collaborative nature of the new facility, uniting the existing historic structure with a new space. Consideration should be given to the investment in education established by the Stewart Building, while also celebrating the Science Yard in totality as a display of scientific achievement. Artists should reflect on the building as not only an education hub, but as an educator in and of itself.

The committee envisions the space as a nationally-recognized, interdisciplinary research and learning facility, with a goal to steward the next generation of inquisitive and impact-driven scientists. In pursuit of this, they have outlined five principles that artists should take into consideration:

• Interactive – enable a variety of activities–auditory, visual, and kinesthetic
• Community – emphasize interactions through open design, fostering a collaborative and healthy energy
• Visible – encourage curiosity, discovery, and learning using technology and storytelling within the space, allowing visitors to experience hands-on learning
• Responsible – address the diverse needs of different races, nationalities, genders, ages, and abilities through safe, functional, and enjoyable spaces; commit to a sustainable and healthy environment
• Human – design first and foremost for people in order to raise the standards of learning and research

The Applied Sciences Facility reflects these principles in the programming offered; in addition to modern classrooms and laboratories, the facility will feature areas specifically designed for K-12 outreach programs, an observatory for evening star parties, and a climate center. The climate center will be a central element of the new facility, reflecting the work and research of both the Department of Physics & Astronomy and the Department of Atmospheric Sciences. The incorporated artwork should also reflect this environmental focus, celebrating this collaborative element of both departments.

The design of the building provides many opportunities for the integration of artwork into the architecture and site. The Selection Committee is open to artist suggested sites and has also identified some of the opportunities artists may consider:
 

• Atrium/lobby or exterior at southwest entrance of new build
• Atrium/lobby or exterior at northwest entrance of new build
• Exterior plaza between Crocker Science Center and new build
• 2nd Floor Stairway in Stewart Building

BUDGET

$165,000 is available for all related expenses of this Public Art commission(s) including (but not limited to) artist fees, fabrication, engineering, insurance, shipping, travel, installation, documentation, etc.

ELIGIBILITY

Resident American or legal resident artists/artist teams are encouraged to apply. Utah artists are strongly encouraged to apply. Art Selection Committee members, staff of Utah Arts & Museums and EDA Architecture are not eligible to apply for this commission. All Art Selection Committee members will declare any conflict of interest and recuse themselves from the vote when reviewing artist applications.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS & REQUIRED MATERIALS

Interested artists may submit applications online via https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=10250

Register at www.callforentry.org and follow the directions for registration and submitting material for this Public Art Request for Qualifications.

The application process will prompt you for all necessary documents and information. This includes up to 10 images and/or up to 1 movie file of previous work, a CV or resume and a Letter of Interest explaining your interest in the project and how your work might relate to the project.

To request an accommodation, please complete an Accommodation Form at least two weeks in advance of the September 7 deadline. Accommodation forms can be found at https://artsandmuseums.utah.gov/accessibility/

SELECTION PROCESS AND SCHEDULE

DEADLINE FOR MATERIALS:  September 7, 2022

The Selection Committee will review all properly submitted qualifications from which a short list of semi-finalists will be selected. Semi-finalists will be asked present a full proposal to the committee on November 9, 2022 to include concept, budget, and timeline. All semi-finalists will be awarded an honorarium to help defray the costs of the development of the proposal. The honorarium will be applied toward the commission amount for the artist(s) awarded the commission(s.) Utah Arts & Museums will not be responsible for applications delayed or lost. The U of U Applied Sciences Project Art Selection Committee reserves the right to withhold the award of a commission or re-release the call for entries.

Schedule:
September 7, 2022 – Deadline for receipt of preliminary materials
September 9, 2022 – Committee Review 
November 9, 2022 – Finalists presentations
Early Fall, 2024 – Substantial completion of the project

ARTIST SELECTION COMMITTEE

Darryl Butt, Dean, College of Mines and Earth Sciences, University of Utah

Nelson Hansen, Architectural Design, EDA Architecture

Bob Herman*, Director of Design, EDA Architecture

Christopher Hoggan, Construction Project Manager, Planning Design & Construction, U of U

Lori Kaczka, Project Manager, Utah Division of Facilities Construction & Management 

Luke Kelly, Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Associate Curator of Collections

Zach Lewis*, Project Director, Okland Construction

TJ McMullin*, Development Director, College of Mines and Earth Sciences, U of U

Colin Moore*, Public Art Advisory Committee, U of U

James Muller, Executive Director of Facilities Management, College of Science, U of U

Cassie Slattery, Director of Special Projects, College of Science, U of U

Peter Trapa*, Dean, College of Science, U of U

Eliot Wilcox, Director of Operations, College of Science, U of U

 * Non-voting committee members

Please do not contact committee members directly. If you have any questions about this or other projects information is available at: www.utahpublicart.org
Or contact: Hannah Barrett at 801-245-7271 or e-mail at hbarrett@utah.gov

All images courtesy EDA Architecture

Application Requirements

Interested artists may submit applications online via CallForEntry. 
This online application process will prompt you for all necessary documents and information. This will include a Letter of Interest, up to ten images of past work, and a CV or resume. 

Eligibility Criteria

Resident American or legal resident artists / artist teams are eligible for this commission. Utah artists are strongly encouraged to apply. Art selection committee members, Utah Arts & Museums staff, and employees, subcontractors, or consultants of EDA Architecture are not eligible for this project.