Office of Public Art and PennDOT Seek Artists or Artist Teams for Highway Project

Pittsburgh, PA – The Office of Public Art (OPA) released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a visual artist or artist team to design a sculptural relief artwork that will be incorporated into concrete sound barrier panels as part of a highway reconstruction project. OPA is working on behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to provide artist selection for the client and project management for the artist.

More Information and How to Apply

OPA will hold an artist information session online via Zoom on Monday, March 15, 2021 from 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM. To ensure meeting security, advance registration is required and can be accessed here: https://tinyurl.com/RT28-Info.

The application deadline is Monday, March 29, 2021 at 11:59 PM. Applications can be submitted here: https://pittsburghartscouncil.submittable.com/submit.

A PDF version of the request for qualifications can be downloaded here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BI5AEmrYjmBZ6Lpg72SVGtK2Jh1KdHfA/view.

About the Project

Located at the Highland Park Bridge Interchange on the north bank of the Allegheny River, the project is part of the State Route 28 ramp reconstruction project. Twelve panels with integrated artwork will be fabricated in total. Seven panels will be located on the northbound side of the interchange, and five panels will be located on the southbound side. The artwork will be created by fabricating custom formwork with relief patterns designed by the selected artist. The panels, including the artwork, will be fabricated and installed through a separate contract with a fabricator based in the Pittsburgh region. The artist will not provide fabrication for the project.

The selected artist or artist team will contract with Michael Baker International, the engineers for the project. The Artist Fee for the project is $30,000. There is an additional allowance for reimbursable expenses, such as travel, parking, printing, and materials required to support the design process. This opportunity is open to visual artists in the United States who meet the eligibility and review criteria.

All applications will be reviewed by a selection panel convened by OPA that will include PennDOT staff, community members, and visual arts professionals. Up to three artists or artist teams will be invited for an interview. The selection committee will identify a finalist and an alternate to be recommended to PennDOT leadership in May 2021. Final design will be furnished to the contractor by November 1, 2021. Fabrication and installation of the panels is anticipated to be completed in summer 2022.

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Pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. If you feel that you have been denied the benefits of, or participation in a PENNDOT program or activity, you may contact the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Equal Opportunity, DBE/Title VI Division at 717‑787-5891 or 800-468-4201. In addition, if you or an individual with whom you are familiar does not speak English as their primary language and who has a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English desires to participate in this meeting or if you require special assistance to attend and/or participate in this meeting or need additional information please contact Mark Young at 412-429-4858.