New Fire Station #5 Public Art Sculpture

Aurora Fire Station #5 is relocating from its current site at 1339 N Airport Blvd to a new site on the northwest corner of Laredo and 11th. The new facility will be larger and meet modern standards in design and functionality. The third in a series of three new fire stations built in recent years, this station will have a more residential feel to help it visually integrate into the surrounding community.

The new Fire Station #5 will be located between three important neighborhood features: Laredo Elementary School, Hinkley High School, and Apache Mesa Park. The High Line Canal winds through the area, and Buckley Air Force Base is southeast of the neighborhood. The Art Selection Panel is seeking to commission a unique free-standing sculpture to be located near the southeast corner of the Fire Station #5, visible from both Laredo St. and 11th. The artwork should serve as a welcoming feature and help soften the building's integration into the residential neighborhood. As the 20th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, the artwork could reflect on the critical role of firefighters in ensuring community well-being, in a manner appropriate to the neighborhood context.

The artwork must be constructed from materials sufficiently durable to withstand Colorado's climate and altitude, including extreme temperature changes (over 40 degrees in short periods), subzero temperatures, temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, high winds, intense sun, low humidity, and precipitation in the form of rain, hail, sleet, and snow. Budget: $40,000. Applicants must submit 6 images of relevant work, a professional resume, and a statement of interest. Open only to artists who are residents of Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, and Arizona. Application deadline: April 9, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. MDT. Finalists will be notified the week of April 15th, with finalist presentations scheduled for early-mid June. The building is expected to be completed by the end of 2019 with an anticipated grand opening in early 2020. Installation prior to the grand opening is desirable but Spring 2020 would be acceptable for the right piece. Questions should be directed to Roberta Bloom, City of Aurora Public Art Coordinator, at [email protected].