The Bernalillo County Arts Board solicits a call for artists for the Alvarado Square Chambers Mural, an indoor, site specific mural project for Bernalillo County @ Alvarado Square, the new home for Bernalillo County government offices. The Alvarado Square Chambers Mural will be located inside the building on the south-facing wall outside of the County Commission Chambers. The mural will be visible to the public both from inside the building and outside from Silver Avenue through glass windows.  Additionally, the design and imagery for the mural will be used in the creation of an acrylic/glass art element to be placed on top of the casework behind the building’s concierge desk and form a screen for the building’s glass elevators. The established budget for this project is $50,000. The winning artist or team will create the concept and design of the mural, engage in community outreach, and implement installation. The mural will be culturally relevant and represent Bernalillo County.

Site Details:

Bernalillo County @ Alvarado Square, 415 Silver Ave. SW 87102, is an eight story building centrally located in downtown Albuquerque. The original Alvarado Square building was constructed in 1980 and is approximately 280,000 square feet. The County is working towards LEED and Fitwel certification for the renovated building, and once completed Alvarado Square will be the first of its kind in the entire state. Alvarado Square will house approximately 800-1,000 county employees. In addition to becoming Bernalillo County’s flagship facility, the property will accommodate many of the County’s most visited public service departments and programs.

A video of the site renderings can be found here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=17&v=OC9AJD-24c8&feature=emb_logo

Additional information can be found here: https://www.bernco.gov/public-art-program

The Alvarado Square Chambers Mural will be located inside the building on the south-facing wall outside of the County Commission Chambers. The mural will be visible to the public both from inside the building and outside from Silver Avenue through glass windows. 

The acrylic/glass art element featuring visual components from the mural will be located at the concierge desk by the building’s elevators.

Location/Context/History:

About Bernalillo County: “Bernalillo County is 1,160 square miles and is New Mexico’s most populous county with more than 674,000 residents. Bernalillo County government provides a wide range of public services to residents who live in Albuquerque, Los Ranchos and Tijeras and the 111,000 residents who live outside the village and city limits in the unincorporated areas of the county.  Bernalillo County employs approximately 2,500 people and has an annual operating budget and capital investments of more than $650 million. Elected officials include five county commissioners, assessor, clerk, probate judge, sheriff and treasurer.”   https://www.bernco.gov

Since 2008, Bernalillo County has been investigating the development of a county administrative building that could provide a single location for customer service. In an effort to physically consolidate the various departments located throughout the county and to reduce environmental footprint, in May 2017 Bernalillo County purchased the Alvarado Square property and began renovation. The renovation includes the remodel of the main Alvarado Square building and the construction of a new building for the County Commission chambers -- a state-of-the-art, 12,000 square foot facility adjacent to the existing eight-story building. The new structure will house a 200-seat chambers and meeting space for the community. Bernalillo County offices are expected to move to Bernalillo County @ Alvarado Square in spring 2021.

County departments that will be housed in the Bernalillo County @ Alvarado Square center include: the Board of County Commissioners; County Manager; Economic Development; Community Services; Parks, Recreation, and Open Space; TV Production; Sheriff; County Clerk; Treasurer; Assessor; Probate Judge; Planning and Development; Indigent Services; Fire Marshal; Public Works; Internal Affairs; Information Technology; Finance; General Services; and Legal.

About the Bernalillo County Arts Board: The Arts Board is guided by the following mission:  Public art has the power to inspire curiosity, encourage contemplation, facilitate dialogue, foster community engagement, and create a sense of place.  Located throughout the county, the Bernalillo County public art collection enhances quality of life through the acquisition of exceptional works of art by artists at various career stages. 

Project Intent/Theme:

The intent of the project is to enhance the facility and create a welcoming environment for customers, Bernalillo County employees, and the general public. The Chambers mural and acrylic/glass art element will be culturally relevant and represent Bernalillo County.

Media/Style/Size:

The Board seeks artists or artists’ teams who are proficient in the creation of site specific murals.  The size of the wall where the mural will be located is 600 square feet, 15’ high x 40’ long. The surface of the wall is gypsum board and will be finished to be smooth. The wall will be primed and painted. The wall includes a 6” tall wood wall base and the color of the wood base will match the plastic laminate sample in the lighter wood finish found on the interior renderings. The color palette of the mural should mirror the color palette/pantone of the building’s interior walls. Durability and low maintenance of all materials is required.

In addition to the main mural, the design and imagery of the mural will be used in the creation of an acrylic/glass art element that will sit on top of the casework behind the building’s concierge desk and form a screen for the building’s glass elevators. The acrylic/glass art element consists of two segments, 14’-8” and 6’-9” long. The piece will be 8’-0” tall and mounted on top of the casework, which is 2’-6” tall. The top of the piece will be 10’-6” above the ground. The proposed method to fabricate the acrylic/glass art element is to laminate two layers of ¼” thick (minimum) acrylic together, with the art printed on one of the inter layers. This process will help protect the art and allow it to be perceived the same way whether looking at it from the lobby or from the elevators. The acrylic/glass would be frameless on the sides and top, and mounted only from the bottom. The artist may discuss additional options for materials with the design-build team. The County will provide the acrylic and will be responsible for the installation.

Project Funds:

$50,000.00 is available to commission the mural from 1% for the Arts, from voter approved general obligation bonds. This amount includes all fees and expenses associated with the project, e.g., materials, equipment, labor, permits, travel, installation, and written and professional photographic documentation of the completed project.

Timeframe (subject to change): The call is open for 45 days. From the submissions, three finalists will be chosen by the Selection Committee to prepare their final designs and present to the Selection Committee and the community in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  The finalists may or may not choose to present their designs in person.

• Request for Qualifications announced: June 2020

• Selection committee meetings and community comment period: Summer 2020

• Three finalists announced: Fall 2020

• Final selection awarded: Fall 2020

• Mural planning and design: Fall-Winter 2020-2021

• A high-quality rendering of the mural design must be completed by January 1st, 2021 for use in the acrylic/glass art element

• Acrylic/glass art element installation: First week of March 2021

• Mural implementation starts April 12, 2021

• Mural completion by October 31, 2021

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria