Interior Mural 

MidPen Housing is seeking a Bay Area artist or artist team to create an original mural that pays homage to the legacy of Ira D. Hall, the building’s namesake. We are not looking for traditional illustration or documentation of this individual’s life, but rather an artist who can tap into the energy and interpret through imagery. Ira D. Hall embodied a life of public service, a variety of careers, as well as a deep interest in art. 

The artwork spans two floors of the building’s east façade and is visible from the street for cars or pedestrians. The purpose of including this mural in the architectural design is to infuse the building and neighborhood with the inspiring history and sense of style of this influential individual, Ira D Hall.

The 33-foot wide 18 foot high artwork spans two floors of the building’s east façade and is visible from the street for cars or pedestrians. This two-floor mural should be visually connected yet will be separated by a concrete floor between levels 1 and 2. The space is enclosed in glass and the distance between the mural wall and window is 3’-8”. This is not an accessible passageway, but is is dedicated to accessing the art for installation and maintenance only.

We welcome a range of artistic media, from traditional paint to tile, digital, or sculptural elements. The selected artist(s) will be provided with image archives, information about Mr. Hall, and access to his surviving family members, as well as details about his role as a co-founder of MidPen Housing.

As part of the commission process, the artist will collaborate with the MidPen Housing development and the art consultant in a limited design review to ensure the artwork aligns with both the vision of the project and the legacy of Ira D. Hall.

The top two finalists will be invited to submit a proposal for their potential artwork. Each finalist will be compensated with an honorarium of $1,000 for their presentation and proposal.

Ira D. Hall Square - The Community

Scheduled for completion in Fall 2025, Ira D. Hall Square will be a 176-unit affordable housing development built on 1.26 acres in the office-rich area north of the Lawrence Caltrain Station and west of Lawrence Expressway in Santa Clara County. This community will feature 39 studios, 47 one-bedroom, 44 two-bedroom, and 44 three-bedroom apartments, with 174 units designated for families earning between 30 to 70 percent of the Area Median Income.

Rising seven stories to a maximum height of 75 feet, the 120,715-square-foot complex will include five residential floors atop two levels of podium parking. Residents will enjoy amenities such as a community room with a kitchen, an after-school program classroom, an outdoor recreation area, and access to public parks. With convenient proximity to shopping and public transportation, including the Lawrence Caltrain Station. Ira D. Hall Square aims to address the Silicon Valley’s critical need for affordable housing, particularly for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Forty-five units will specifically support individuals facing or at risk of chronic homelessness in Santa Clara County.

Useful Links

• Lawrence Station Area Plan (LSAP) | City of Santa Clara (santaclaraca.gov)
• County Supervisors Approve Affordable Housing for 1178 Sonora Court in Sunnyvale -  YIMBY (sfyimby.com)
• MidPen Gets Green Light For 176 Affordable Apartments In Sunnyvale (therealdeal.com)
• City of Sunnyvale - File #: 21-1027 (legistar.com)
• Ira D. Hall Square – MidPen Housing (midpen-housing.org)

The Building Namesake

Ira D. Hall was a co-founder and first CEO of Mid Pen Housing. He was a lifelong advocate for social justice and racial equity creating a legacy of quality affordable housing in the Bay Area.  Ira D. Hall was also an accomplished engineer, and businessman who served numerous advisory and trustee positions in cultural and civic organizations. For more information:

Ira D Hall

Ira Hall, The history maker

2020 Arbuckle Award Dinner Honoring Ira D. Hall, '66, MBA '76 - Full Video - YouTube

Who We Are

MidPen Housing is one of the largest non-profit developers, owners, and managers of high-quality affordable housing in Northern California. Since MidPen was founded in 1970, we have created more than 130 communities with over 9,000 homes for low-income families, seniors and special needs individuals throughout Northern California.  Our work at MidPen is driven by the belief that safe, affordable housing creates the foundation necessary for people to prosper and contribute to their communities. The frequent inclusion of art in these communities contributes to that quality of life we seek to provide.

Jury Process

A jury comprised of several MidPen staff, a public art specialist, and members of the Sunnyvale community, will score the pool of applicants based on relevant work experience, style, and ability to engage with the site and story. 

For questions related to the art opportunity and file requirements, please call Melissa Smedley, Art Consultant: melissasmedley@artistatlarge.net, 831-737-5360. For questions regarding the project or MidPen Housing, please contact Jasmine Soria-Delgado at 650-773-9195.

SCHEDULE:

*Please note this schedule is subject to change due to the possibility of variations with the construction timeline.

Application Requirements

Portfolio of past work, minimum 6 to maximum 12 images most relevant to this call. Include dimensions, media, location, whether a commission and $$ amounts, if so.  

Statement of Interest: What draws you to this project and why are you a good candidate? Does the story of Ira D. Hall inspire you in a particular way?

Artist bio/ or resume: Discuss your artist journey, career highlights, and connection to the bay area. One page maximum.

The deadline for this call is 5:00 PM PST on Friday, April 11, 2025

Eligibility Criteria

Artist portfolio and experience must demonstrate a willingness to work collaboratively with clients. The artist must be inclined to research and interpret a biography inspired mural project, while maintaining their own artistic voice.

We will hire local artists with a connection to the Bay Area. Artists from other regions of California or other states will not be eligible.