Call Description

The City of Greeley Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Facility ensures that all the city's wastewater meets or exceeds EPA and Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment requirements. Wastewater from homes, businesses, and industrial processes in Greeley is collected and travels through sewer pipes to the treatment plant. Here, it undergoes rigorous treatment and sanitation processes before being released back into the environment. This treatment is essential to protect the health and safety of both the community and the river ecosystem. Our efforts focus on maintaining and improving the water quality of the Cache la Poudre River by thoroughly treating all wastewater. Greeley's wastewater system serves approximately 61 square miles and continues to expand. The city's wastewater management is divided into three operations: Wastewater Collection, Wastewater Treatment, and Industrial Pretreatment. Our environmental professionals are dedicated to providing quality, safe, and cost-effective wastewater treatment around the clock. The Greeley wastewater team is proud to be recognized as a Class A, award-winning facility.

Budget and Scope of Work

The goal of the Public Art program is to commis­sion works of art and public art projects of redeeming quality that advance public understanding of visual art and enhance the aesthetic quality of public places. The Public Art program is open to a wide range of ideas and interpretation that comply with these goals and maintain high aesthetic standards in the field of visual art.

The total contracted amount for this project is not to exceed $80,000 and is to cover all costs including but not limited to working with the design team to design/develop the art project, foundation, transportation, fabrication, delivery, and installation. The Artist must be able to provide complete artistic, engineering, professional and construction services required to complete the project. A separate call to artists will be issued in 2026 for a large mural on the 150-foot-long concrete wall seen on page 4 that will complement the sculptural design.

The selected artist will be responsible for developing a work of public art that will showcase one or more of the Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Facility processes; for example, cleaning water to be put back into river, the use of microbiology, etc. (link to City Site) The finished sculpture should be eye-catching to improve visibility from the street view. Elements, such as an above ground concrete pedestal, to protect artwork from vehicles pulling into the gravel area must be incorporated into the sculpture foundation.

The artist shall not sell full size reproductions of this design to any public entity within one hundred (100) miles of the City of Greeley. The average life expectancy for this artwork should be between 20 – 30 years. 

Selection Process

The Selection Committee will consist of at least two members of the Greeley Art Commission, one or more Water and Sewer and Cultural Affairs staff members, and community members.

Up to five artists will be shortlisted based on past experience working with design teams, past work that exhibits style and materials appropriate to the project, and a strong letter of intent. 

City staff recommend the following selection process:

·       Staff review of submissions for technical ability to complete the project.

·       The City of Greeley will convene a Selection Panel to evaluate the submissions and select up to five (5) finalists in September 2025.

·       Those finalists will be required to attend an onsite tour of the Facility on an agreed upon date in October 2025.

·       Finalists will present conceptual ideas for the project via TEAMS on an agreed upon date in January 2026.

·       The Selection Panel and/or staff will follow up with questions regarding the conceptual design January 2026.

·       The Selection Panel will select one artist and one alternate based on the published selection criteria.

·       The recommendation will be presented to the Art Commission for approval. The City Council has the final approval of the project/artist’s design.

·       The approved artist will be put under a design/build contract in January 2026. The contract will require the artist to coordinate with the City and develop design and construction documents for the project by March of 2026 and install the sculpture preferably by September 2026 (dates are negotiable).

The selection of one final artist shall be based on who best meets the requirements contained in the Request for Qualifications including artist resume and positive references, interviews and presentation of conceptual design approach to the project. The final artist(s) will work with a selection committee to finalize the approved conceptual design submission. The Artist must be able to provide complete artistic, engineering, professional and construction services required to complete the project.

In addition to the standard project selection criteria, the Selection Panel will be reviewing and evaluating artistic and performance criteria that is required for this specific project including: 

·       artistic merit and technical ability to successfully execute design and construction,

·       ability to understand a locale’s sense of place, and design in a context-sensitive manner,

·       demonstrated successful creative, innovative, and effective approach in comparable projects (e.g. projects of similar size and scope),

·       create an engaging and unique work of contemporary art for the public.

·       enhance the facility entrance and honor water treatment and reclamation through a significant work of public art.

·       project the uses and processes of the facility as essential needs for the city.

·       create a work of art that is easily maintained including minimal fading of colors and not easily vandalized.

All styles of artwork, or series of works of art, that follow this criterion will be considered:

•       All medias that are safe for humans and animals, and can withstand Colorado’s weather extremes from hot to cold in a single day and require little or no maintenance, including minimal fading of colors,

•         Diverse themes that are acceptable to a broad audience of all ages, cultures and sexual orientation,

•         Styles that are appropriate and complementary to the Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Facility,

•         Are of an industrial grade relative to durability and do not appear to invite climbing or vandalism,

•         Do not include logos, copyrighted or trademarked images or a form of signage or advertisement in any way.

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria

The Artist must be able to provide complete artistic, engineering, professional and construction services required to complete the project. A separate call to artists will be issued in 2026 for a large mural on the 150-foot-long concrete wall seen on page 4 that will complement the sculptural design.