Public Art: 88th RTD Station

The City of Thornton, in collaboration with the Regional Transportation District (RTD), is seeking to purchase existing prefabricated 3D large-scale public art work for the 88th Station located at 88th Avenue and Welby Road in Original Thornton. The artwork will serve as a gateway entrance into Thornton and should touch on the station's overall theme while creating strong visual impact to position Thornton as a contemporary destination-city engaged in contemporary conversations on art and culture.

This nationwide call is open to all artists, design teams, and architectural firms age 18 and over. Preference will be given to those with existing designs and prefabricated work ready for purchase. Special consideration will be made for applicants without prefabricated work who are confident in their ability to fabricate, complete, and install work to meet project demands and strict deadlines. City of Thornton employees are not eligible. The project budget is $77,000, inclusive of artist design fees, fabrication, transportation, shipping, installation, insurance, engineered drawings, and permits. Work must be installed and all billing completed by December 31, 2020.

The 88th station has one designated installation area: the Bus/Vehicle Roundabout with a viable area inside both inner and outer circles with 4-foot clearance from the curb. The border between the inner circle and bus lane is 12 feet, with a height restriction of 23 feet. The site has irrigation for landscaping within the inner circle. Artwork must withstand Colorado's constantly changing weather conditions, use durable materials requiring little maintenance, and comply with RTD Art Guidelines regarding pedestrian safety, electrical connections, clearance regulations, and coordination with RTD's North Metro Contractor. Successful proposals should embody the 1950s theme or touch on concepts of community and volunteerism, demonstrating cohesive design, dynamic use of color and composition, interdisciplinary practice with innovative materials, experience in large-scale fabrication, and understanding of contemporary art's positive effect on public space and community identity.