PROJECT SITE

40th Street Streetscape Project

The 40th Street Streetscape Project is located on the southern edge of Emeryville. The Project runs along 40th Street from Adeline Street to Shellmound Street, just south of Christie Avenue. A transit hub sits between San Pablo Avenue and Adeline Street at the easternmost end of the Project, while the plaza offering departure for the Bay Bridge Pedestrian and Bicycle Path on Shellmound Street is located at the midpoint of the project, with the project forming a L shape. 

The Project will enhance connectivity between these points by installing bicycle paths, in the form of two-way cycle tracks, and transit lanes. Additionally, certain side streets will be partially or fully closed to improve safety. This initiative will result in the creation of four new plazas.

These four plazas will serve as locations for art installations or integrated materials envisioned by artists. The Project encompasses various physical enhancements, including the installation of street furniture and landscaping—ranging from bus shelters to trash cans. While each of these facilities adheres to a standard specification for security purposes, they won't be directly designed by an artist. Instead, they present an opportunity for artists to conceive and design fitting installations that can be affixed to these street furniture elements or hardscapes. Lastly, the Streetscape project marks the initiation of the first phase of a Citywide wayfinding program. Artists will be responsible for designing and providing print-ready imagery of an icon determined through a community process, to be featured in signs printed and installed by the City

THEME

The 40th Streetscape Public Art RFQ theme is “Bringing Nature into the Urban Streetscape”

Teams are expected to integrate this theme into every subtask and embed it in all iconography developed for the project’s signage (to be fabricated and installed by City). This includes any sculptural, functional, painted, or attached elements that the team is tasked with designing, fabricating, and installing. The 40th Streetscape Project is to be enhanced by the installations created by the teams, encompassing any representation of flora, fauna, or a combination of media, all adhering to a cohesive aesthetic throughout the subtasks. This unity will be maintained even when developed by different members of an interdisciplinary team.

“Bringing Nature into the Urban Streetscape” will be developed as the art installations are integrated with the multimodal improvements in the 40th Streetscape Project The project will provide access for all users whether they choose to walk, bike, use public transit or drive Ideally, users of each type should be able to view the art installations from distinct locations.

PROJECT COMPONENTS  https://www.ci.emeryville.ca.us/40thArtRFQ

Three key subtasks are included in the call, across potentially several different disciplines:

1.     Designing an icon for wayfinding signage that aligns with the theme used for sculpted, painted, and/or attached art works. This may incorporate a bicycle and then offer natural elements within or on the bicycle (See Attachment 1) –fabrication and installation will be carried out by the City as Pilot for wayfinding Citywide.

2.     Creation of a plaza installation series or reproducible sculptures with the aim of providing functional elements to the plazas. This may include, but is not limited to:

o   Seating

o   Exercise equipment

o   Interactive installations

o   Living walls, mosaic or mural that incorporate nature. 

3.     An attachable element to street furniture that incorporates the theme as developed in Components 1 and 2.

These should:

·       Create a unified aesthetic for the streetscape

·       Provide an integrated approach for the entire project area, consistent with the theme

·       Invite pedestrians, cyclists, transit users and plaza users to linger and build community with those found in the enlivened spaces of the project

·       Create a space that feels safe, delightful, inspiring, and comfortable. 

40th Street Art Project

Elements of the project deemed suitable for potential attachment of artist(s) designed installations include:

•    Signs

•    Fences

•    Light poles

•    Bus shelters

•    Seating

•    Trash cans

Elements considered suitable for possible design by the artist team include:

•    Signs

•    Fences

•    Plaza seating

•    Plaza trashcans

•    Plaza landscaping

•    Exercise equipment in the plazas

•    Interactive exhibits  

•    Play structures

•    Hardscapes

•    Living walls

The theme should be represented by artistic interventions across one or more elements of the streetscape furniture and the plaza installations. This way pedestrians, cyclists individuals waiting for the bus. or those relaxing or working in the plazas would look for and be delighted to discover a series of interventions akin to bread crumbs or a treasure hunt. 

For the development of the theme and its unified implementation, the City is seeking a team of artists, or a team of artists and landscape designers. This team will lead a community process to consider an iconographic image, to potentially be incorporated into Wayfinding signage. It may also or alternately be reproduced in Banners, and/or Flags in the future. The aim is to seamlessly integrate this wayfinding iconography thematically with the artists' interventions elsewhere in the project..

For example, if the community reached a consensus that Emeryville was best represented by an otter riding a bicycle, this theme would be reflected in various ways. Otters riding bicycles might appear in the iconography of wayfinding signage, sculptures could be fabricated to attach to light posts sculptures could be fabricated creating the illusion of a bike riding up or down the pole. The plazas could also incorporate seating offerings shaped like bikes, otters, or a combination of both. This cohesive representation would enhance thematic continuity across different elements of the project.

Newly improved Plaza Spaces: The Project area is bookended by two plazas serving two separate modes of users of the Project:

·       Bay Bridge Path Bike and Pedestrian Plaza - this plaza is for groups gathering for biking or walking on the path to the Bay Bridge. No installation is proposed in this plaza, though thematic elements may be included if a cost-effective and suitable intervention is developed. 

·       40th and San Pablo Transit Hub (Between San Pablo and Adeline on 40th) - this space is made up of a series of bus stops and a major intersection at 40th and San Pablo Avenue.  No installation is proposed in this Hub, though thematic elements may be included if a cost-effective and suitable intervention is developed. 

The creation of four plazas is anticipated through the installation of hardscape, furnishings, and plantings. This initiative aims to mitigate safety risks for pedestrians and cyclists arising from turning movements at unsignalized intersections along 40th Street, including:

·       Full plaza (no vehicular access at all except emergency access with removable bollards)

o   Haven Street (adjacent to proposed Art Center)

o   Hubbard Street

·       Half plaza – these locations offer vehicular access one way through the intersection, resulting in plazas half the size of the Full plazas at the following streets on the north side of 40th Street:

o   Watts Street

o   Holden Street

Consistent thematic installations or site planning in these plazas is desired. 

40th Street Bridge: The 40th Street Bridge (“Bridge”) is a large concrete overpass that is elevated above several roadways and businesses, starting in the east/west direction, and turning 90 degrees to land on Shellmound Street.  The Bridge is a formidable visual element, as the only above grade element of the project.  No installation is proposed on this structure though thematic elements may be included on the span of the bridge which includes light posts. 

The deliverables of the project consist of three Project Components as described below:

Project Component #1: Icon Development

The City’s vision is to commission an innovative icon that can effectively represent the City, its finest attributes and unmistakably signal one is in Emeryville. This icon will seamlessly incorporate or support the designated theme, and a community process will be conducted for its development. . This work will include an online survey and at least two workshops, depiction of up to six nominee designs for public and online display, and development of the print-ready graphic of the final design, for City fabrication and installation.

Project Component #2: Plaza Art Element(s)

The plaza sites included in this component include new “Full” and “Partial” plazas.

Full Plazas - at cul-de-sacs created by the Project:

·       Haven Street (adjacent to proposed Art Center)

·       Hubbard Street

Partial Plazas – locations with a low volume driveway for access to the side street

·       Watts Street

·       Holden Street

Possible installations for each plaza may encompass the design, fabrication, and installation of one of the following elements, ensuring consistency with the theme: Light pole attachments

·       Sculpture

·       Seating

·       Trash cans

·       Fences 

Project Component #3: Public Right of Way Improvements to Enhance and Promote Connectivity Between the 40th and San Pablo Bus Hub and Bay Bridge Pedestrian and Bicycle Plaza

The Project streetscape additions include:

·       Signs

·       Trees

·       Light poles

·       Bus Shelters

·       Trash cans

This component will include the design, fabrication and installation of one element to be attached to one or more of these objects in no less than 12 locations along the streetscape maintaining thematic consistency throughout the Corridor.

PROJECT CONTEXT

In July 2023, the Emeryville City Council authorized moving forward with funding and engineering drawings for the 40th Street Streetscape Project. This project, as currently designed, involves modifications to the public right of way, street furniture, and plazas within the designated area. The Project envisions the integration of this district through public art installations and coordinated streetscape and landscape improvements that enhance the pedestrian experience, support commercial activities, and foster a unified retail district by strengthening the connection between the 40th and San Pablo Bus Hub and Bay Bridge Pedestrian and Bicycle Plaza. The 40th Multimodal Project can be found here

This two-phased project reaches to the Christie and Shellmound intersection from the Adeline Street and 40th Street as depicted here:

The first phase includes consideration of new plaza spaces as depicted in more detail here:

See the RFQ's Attachments 3 and 4 for more project details; Attachment 3 for project overview and Attachment 4 for conceptual detail and typical proposed treatment of one of the four new plazas that may be revised for artist interventions or added to with standard attachments.   

Concurrent with the installation of these streetscape improvements, the City is issuing this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for 40th Streetscape Public Art to solicit applications from teams whose primary members are comprised of artists with both iconographic design expertise and installations of artworks in public outdoor locations, and possibly landscape architects to:

1)    Develop a print-ready project icon for wayfinding integration (to be fabricated and installed by the City) and utilization in theme development through a coordinated community outreach process.

2)    Design, fabricate and install a unique, innovative public art installation(s) within the 40th Streetscape Improvement Project’s Plaza spaces (four), either as a re-occurring element in multiple locations or a series of installations

3)    Design, fabricate and install a unique, innovative public art installation(s) within the 40th Streetscape Improvement Project public right of way in a minimum of 12 locations.

The overall goals of this project are to:

·       Provide a visual and psychological connection for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers between the 40th and San Pablo Bus Hub and Bay Bridge Pedestrian and Bicycle Plaza through the coordinated placement of public art, landscape/hardscape elements and lighting.

·       Acknowledge and celebrate the streetscape’s role as the “stage” on which the life of the community plays out.

·       Create a safe and welcoming environment for pedestrians through the use of both nighttime lighting and artistic elements that are visible during the day.

·       Create a powerful, iconic image for the City of Emeryville to be incorporated into the wayfinding signage and/or a project element repeated in the project

Application Requirements

SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS

 The following are to be submitted via CaFÉ (www.callforentry.org)

1.     Narrative (maximum 3,000 characters) indicating the team’s interest in and qualifications for the project. Please indicate any experience the team has working together on similar projects, and/or how the team plans to collaborate on this project.

2.     Please indicate the name of the team member who will enter into a Professional Services Agreement with the City for the project. The City will issue only one such Agreement.

3.     Resumes (not to exceed 2,000 characters) for each team member that highlights professional accomplishments and describes experience with projects similar in scope and nature to this project.

4.     A maximum of 12 images, per team, of projects relevant to this call. 

5.     Annotated image list with full descriptions including title, medium, dimensions, project budget, location and commissioning agency.

6.     Name and contact information for the team’s representative.

Eligibility Criteria

This RFQ is open to teams consisting of visual artists specializing in outdoor public art installations and designers with expertise in iconographic development, and potentially landscape architects, all residing in the United States, provided they meet the following qualifications:

1.     The team must include a visual artist with experience in producing a minimum of two permanent, exterior public art projects similar in scale and complexity to this project.  

2.     The team must include a graphic designer or visual artist with experience in producing a minimum of two iconographic images with a community engagement process or community review like the scope described here in.

3.     The team may include a landscape architect with experience in planning and implementing landscape designs for urban environments, preferably with experience in integrating public art into streetscapes, sustainable design and bay-friendly landscaping.

4.     Each team member must demonstrate a history of professional activity and achievement in their respective fields.

5.     The team leader must demonstrate the ability to manage a project of this scale and complexity, and to oversee the work of multiple disciplines. They must demonstrate technical competence with regard to selection of materials, installation procedures and long-term maintenance. Alternatively, they must be able to procure and manage the work of subconsultants with such experience.

6.     The team members must demonstrate knowledge of and interest in contemporary public art, particularly within an urban environment; have a history of completing projects on time and within budget; and demonstrated experience in working with government organizations and civic committees in a planning process. Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential to this project.

7.     The team members should have interest and a practice of work that supports the theme of “Bringing Nature into Urban Streetscapes” through imagery, color, materials and/or conceptual practice.