AWTF Biogas Flare Artwork Project

The City of Coeur d'Alene Wastewater Department is seeking an artist or artist team to create a permanent public artwork for the Coeur d'Alene Advance Wastewater Treatment Facility (AWTF). Located at 881 Hubbard Avenue alongside the Centennial Trail and Spokane River, the artwork will incorporate the facility's biogas flare—a continuously burning open flame visible from the trail and secured behind an eight-foot fence.

The artwork should be safe, fun, and appropriate for all ages while educating the public about biogas and its role in wastewater treatment. The design must incorporate an elevated continuous open flame of varying heights without altering or deflecting the flame, and must permit unobstructed access to the biogas flare infrastructure and daily operations. The sculpture must be self-standing and mounted on concrete footing, constructed entirely of fire-resistant materials that can withstand temperatures up to 1,000°F and North Idaho weather conditions. The existing biogas flare is a 36-inch diameter steel barrel mounted 12 feet above ground on a 4-inch diameter steel standpipe, with a 2-inch diameter gas feed pipe extending 14 feet horizontally.

The project budget is $75,000, inclusive of all design, fabrication, installation, and contingency costs (10% required). Artwork installation is scheduled for August 2024, with the completed piece becoming property of the City of Coeur d'Alene. The selection process is two-step: initial Request for Qualifications (RFQ) submissions, followed by invitations for up to five finalists to develop full proposals. Submission deadline is December 1, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. MST. Six color images are required with the RFQ submission.