Please note that the eligibility for this opportunity is limited to current residents of Harris County. This requirement aligns with Harris Health’s goal of fostering a positive economic impact within the local community.

On behalf of Harris Health, art consultants Davis Cohen Art (DCA) invite artists to submit their qualifications for the first phase of the Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) Hospital Campus - Garage Façade Project. The Art Committee will review these qualifications and select a shortlist of artists to advance to the second phase, which will involve developing project-specific designs. A stipend will be provided for this phase of the project. Please review the Call to Artists carefully to understand the project details and submission requirements.

We encourage artists and artist teams to thoroughly research Harris Health, including its history, strategic plan, and the communities it serves. This knowledge will be instrumental in developing the conceptual foundation of your submission and future artistic design. Below is a summary of key information to guide and inspire your approach to the Garage Façade Project.

Artwork for the Garage Facade 

The design for the new parking garage at the LBJ Hospital Campus will feature a decorative screening with an iconic surface design that sets the tone for the entire campus. This monumental design will grace the facade of the multi-level parking garage, serving as a welcoming element for patients, families, community members, and staff. Please note that the technical aspects of fabricating and installing the decorative screening system are not included in the artist’s scope and will be handled by the construction team. 

The LBJ Hospital Campus Garage Façade Project is a key exterior design element and a flagship initiative for the Harris Health Art Program, the surrounding campus, and Harris Health. This project is designed to cultivate a strong sense of community, creating an environment that is both mission- and brand-appropriate, while also being welcoming and safe for visitors and staff. Integrating community art and design elements will reflect the rich cultural heritage of Harris County, promoting a sense of familiarity and comfort. In a culture increasingly connected to visual imagery, the decorative screening system will become one of the campus’ most recognizable visual identifiers. Its importance cannot be overstated.

Houston is renowned as the nation’s most diverse city, so we encourage minority artists to submit their qualifications. Harris County encompasses a wide range of socioeconomic, economic, and household diversity. Established in 1836 and incorporated in 1837, Houston has evolved from a heavily industrial area to a vibrant urban center for living, working, and recreation. The project site is located near the Fifth Ward and north of Kashmere Gardens, a historically African American neighborhood. The City of Houston has been making community-led investments and action plans to enhance access to resources in these areas. Harris Health serves an ethnically diverse population that reflects the broader Harris County community.

The Call to Artists is the first part of a two-step process. The LBJ Hospital Campus Art Committee will review the qualifications of artists and artist teams and then invite a shortlisted group to submit project-specific designs, accompanied by a stipend for their efforts. Shortlisted artists or teams must submit their project-specific designs by Monday, December 2, 2024.

The main deliverables for the Project are outlined in the Artist Application section of the Call to Artists.

Artists or artist teams will need to provide their background and examples of completed projects to demonstrate their capability, competency, and unique vision. Shortlisted artists will be invited to participate in the second phase of the Call to Artists, where they will be asked to envision, conceptualize, and design the artwork for the Garage Facade Project. The second phase is referred to as the Design Phase. The Art Committee is open to both abstract and representational designs.

Rendering 1  - Metal Sheathing Facade of Parking Garage (Facing South)

Rendering 2  - Metal Sheathing Facade of Parking Garage (Facing West)

Rendering 3  - Metal Sheathing Facade of Parking Garage (Facing South)

Rendering 4 - LBJ Campus Hospital Site

Rendering 5 - Green Space of LBJ Campus Hospital

Rendering 6 - Exterior of LBJ Campus Hospital

Rendering 7 - Lobby Entrance of LBJ Campus Hospital

About Harris Health: Tomorrow is Calling 

Tomorrow is calling. These three words resonate deeply with Harris Health, highlighting the profound responsibility to always be prepared and equipped to serve the community. As the public health safety net for the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country, the mission is clear: to address healthcare disparities, keep the community informed, and foster a culture of respect and inclusion.

This commitment is underscored by the recent approval of a historic $2.5 billion bond—the first of its kind in Harris Health's history. This significant step positions Harris Health to confidently expand services and meet the growing needs of a diverse community. The bond reflects a dedication to addressing the healthcare needs of an increasing number of uninsured and underinsured residents.

On November 7, 2023, 72% of Harris County voters supported this landmark bond proposal. This approval enables transformative changes, including the construction of a new Adult Level I trauma-capable hospital on the LBJ Hospital campus. This new facility will double the current capacity of LBJ Hospital, allowing for more comprehensive and effective care.

The bond will also fund renovations and expansions at LBJ Hospital, the creation of three new health centers in underserved areas, and upgrades to older Harris Health primary care clinics. Additionally, it will expand capacity and procedural areas at Ben Taub Hospital to better serve the community.

Goals extend beyond mere expansion, focusing on enhancing healthcare equity, closing gaps in health disparities, and promoting diversity and inclusion throughout the organization. Partnerships with Houston Community College and renewed efforts toward contractor diversity are central to these objectives, as is the creation of the Center for Accelerating Health Equity.

Click here to view the Harris Health 2021-2025 Strategic Plan  

Click here to view the Harris Health 2023 Annual Report 

LBJ Hospital in Northeast Harris County 

Led by the architectural firm HKS, which is responsible for the redesign, the project will set new standards for Harris Health. These investments and renovations are designed to rebuild trust in healthcare, promote equity, and ensure that all residents, especially those uninsured or underserved, have access to quality care in a supportive and accessible environment.

Harris Health Mission, Vision, and Values 

Harris Health Mission 

Harris Health is a community-focused academic healthcare system dedicated to improving the health of those most in need in Harris County through quality care delivery, coordination of care and education.

Harris Health Vision 

Harris Health will become the premier public academic healthcare system in the nation. 

Harris Health Values 

Harris Health values QUALITY: 

• Q — quality and patient safety
• U — united as One Harris Health
• A — accountable and just culture
• L — leadership and integrity
• I — innovation, research and education
• T — trust, respect and recognition
• Y — you: patients, employees and medical staff

Harris Health’s Strategic Pillars, 2021-2025 Strategic Plan  

• Pillar 1: Quality and Patient Safety (pages 26 – 27)
• Pillar 2: People (pages 28 – 29)
• Pillar 3: One Harris Health (pages 30 – 31)
• Pillar 4: Population Health Management (pages 32 – 33)
• Pillar 5: Infrastructure Optimization (pages 34 – 35)
• Pillar 6: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) (pages 36 – 41)

Harris Health Patient Demographics (2023) Annual Report 

Patient Ethnicity 

• Hispanic - 52.3%
• African American – 22.5%
• Caucasian - 17.9%
• Asian and other - 7.3%

Patient Age 

• 0-19 15.85%
• 20-64 74.35%
• 65+ 9.8%

Patient Gender 

• Female 56.12%
• Male 43.88%

Volume Statistics - FY2023 

• Cases occupying hospital beds - 41,604
• Births - 5,494
• Emergency visits - 155,570
• Outpatient clinic visits - 1,488,884
• Total surgery cases - 20,704

Patient Payor Mix 

• Uninsured – 44.3%
• Medicaid and CHIP – 22.6%
• Commercial and other funding - 21.7%
• Medicare and Medicare managed – 11.4%

Harris Health provided $688.8 million in charity care in Fiscal Year 2023. 

Strategic Priorities of the LBJ Hospital Campus Garage Facade Project 

• Align with Harris Health's Mission Statement: Ensure the design reflects and supports the core values and goals of Harris Health.
• Reflect the Communities Served: Infuse the design with elements that represent the diverse communities served by Harris Health.
• Enhance the Surrounding Communities: Uplift and positively impact the local area through the artwork.
• Create a Sense of Place: Develop a design that provides a meaningful and welcoming experience for patients, visitors, and staff.
• Design for Longevity and Inspiration: Produce a visually inspiring and iconic artwork that will stand as a symbol of the advanced, modern community hospital for decades.
• Technical Suitability: Ensure the design is technically appropriate in terms of scale and material transferability.
• Demonstrate Proven Success: Present a track record of successful outcomes with highly visible public artwork.
• Adhere to Budget: Design within the allocated budget constraints.

Project Specification – Site and Technical Requirements 

The existing site is characterized by commercial development to the west, including the Northeast Community Farmers Market, low-density housing to the north, and a freeway to the east and south. The new hospital on the LBJ campus will be situated adjacent to the existing hospital, which will be repurposed. 

Proposals should ensure that the artwork can be realized within the provided site parameters. Considerations should include:

• Visibility: Ensure that the artwork is visually effective from various vantage points, including the highway, the entrance road, pedestrian areas, hospital windows, and the community farm.
• Technical Requirements: Review the manufacturer’s technical overview to understand best practices for creating successful and environmentally durable designs. Pay particular attention to color choices to ensure longevity and resistance to degradation over time.

Click here to see Site Plan for the Campus Garage.

Click here to read Materials Specification Sheet for the Campus Garage.

About the Decorative Screening System 

The artwork will be incorporated into a decorative screening system that features aluminum extrusions holding a fabric skin made from durable PES, PTFE fiberglass, or ETFE. This system will be either surface-mounted to a concrete structure or attached to a steel framework. The decorative screening system serves multiple functions, including protection from wind, heat, and solar glare, and offers the potential for reducing heating and cooling costs.

Click here to see Elevations of the Campus Garage.

Budget & Timeline 

The Call to Artists process aims to identify artists with the capability and expertise to creatively conceptualize the Harris Health mission through visual artwork. Please note that Harris Health and its Art Consultant will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by artists during the submission process. 

Timeline 

Artist Questions

Any questions received by the Submission of Artist Questions deadline of Wednesday, September 25, 2024 @ 11:59pm, will be reflected with answers in the below link entitled Addendum - Artist Questions. 

It is the responsibility of the proponent to check the submission portal to review the addenda and/or updates prior to submitting a proposal. 

Refer to the above Timeline for dates & deadlines. 

Click here to see Addendum - Artist Questions.

Selection Process & Criteria 

All submissions will be pre-screened to ensure they meet completeness and eligibility requirements, including submission guidelines, project specifications, timeline, and budget. 

Davis Cohen Art and Harris Health reserve the right to accept or reject any and all submissions. 

Proposals deemed complete and eligible will be reviewed by the LBJ Hospital Campus Art Committee. The Art Committee may, at its discretion, invite non-voting technical advisors to assist with the selection process. 

Application Requirements

All artist application materials must be submitted through the third-party submission portal, CaFÉ. CaFÉ is an online system specifically designed for the arts sector to streamline and manage the call-for-entry processes. 

Artist/Artist Lead Team Bio (Max 2 pages)  

• Provide CVs/Resumes for each team member, highlighting their qualifications and experience. Include a biography detailing each artist's background, artistic career, accomplishments, and connection to Harris County. References may be requested for selected concepts.

Related Experience (500 word-limit) 

• Describe the artist’s/artist team’s experience with similar projects or related functions. List completed major public art, public open space, streetscape, and other relevant projects.

Images of Past Work/Projects 

• Provide at least five (5) photographs of previous work, including dimensions, venue, and year of creation. Include examples from each team member, if applicable, and showcase other relevant or similar works.
• Submit images as jpg files, each labeled with dimensions, venue, and year.
• Optional: Include a brief description of the conceptual meaning of the projects.
• Optional: Provide renderings or elevations of past projects as supplemental material.

Questions 

If you require further information about this opportunity, please submit your questions by email to Lindsay Davis, Davis Cohen Art (LBJ Hospital Art Consultant), lindsay@daviscohenart.com.  

Submission Instructions 

Contact lindsay@daviscohenart.com before the deadline if you require special accommodation or assistance with the submission requirements. 

Note: Links to external document sharing sites will not be accepted. All submission materials must be included in your online application as attachments in .pdf format, with support materials in .jpg format through the online application process. 

Submissions that do not comply with these requirements may not be considered. 

Eligibility Criteria

The Call to Artists is open to adult artists and artist teams currently residing in Harris County, as detailed in the Artist Application. This fulfills Harris Health’s desire to create a positive economic impact locally. Preference will be given to artists who identify as minority artists, reflecting the commitment to supporting and showcasing local and diverse talent.