Benton Boulevard Bridge over Brush Creek Rehabilitation - Public Art Commission

The City of Kansas City, Missouri One Percent for Art program seeks to commission a professional visual artist or artist team to design art for the rehabilitation of the Benton Boulevard bridge over Brush Creek. Artistic elements may include lighting, entry features, or railing, and all artistic elements must comply with the 2018 International Building Code. The bridge is located approximately 200 feet north of the intersection of Blue Parkway and Benton Boulevard. The existing bridge is a three-span open spandrel arch bridge built around 1923 that carries four lanes of Benton Boulevard over Brush Creek. The rehabilitation goal is to design and repair concrete superstructure decay, provide updated ADA, bicycle, and pedestrian accommodations, and restore the architectural historic presence.

The public art budget for this project is up to $100,000. Applicants must submit 5-10 images of their work. The selection process will identify up to three semi-finalists who will each receive a $1,200 design fee to develop a proposal. The selection panel will review semi-finalist proposals, budgets, and qualifications (images of work, resume/CV, letter of interest, references) and select one artist or artist team and one alternate. The selected artist's proposal will be presented to the Municipal Art Commission for approval prior to contract development.

Evaluation criteria include: excellence and originality of work; relevant prior experience with similar scale and budget projects; appropriateness to site and project context; and durability of materials and processes for outdoor public works. The selected artist will enter into a contract with the City of Kansas City, Missouri and must comply with city, state, and federal requirements including business licensing, vendor registration, prevailing wage law (for contracts over $75,000), and insurance requirements. Questions should be directed to [email protected].