University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy

The University of Rhode Island is seeking artists or art teams to design and install a new Medicinal & Wellness Garden at the College of Pharmacy. The garden will feature an educational display of medicinal plants, herbal plants, and spices, and will function as a conservatory source of standard specimens. It will aid in the study of pharmacognosy and help illustrate sources of plant-derivative drugs. Beyond serving as a botanical resource, the garden will inspire visitors to explore the relationship between humans and nature, and the natural environment's role in human wellbeing.

The site encompasses approximately 15,275 square feet. The scope of work includes the design and installation of all permanent landscaping, initial seasonal medicinal garden plantings (including existing plants transferred from the existing Heber W. Youngken Medicinal Garden), surface materials, walkways, paths, planting beds, sculpture, walls, artistic structures, site drainage systems, site lighting, and irrigation systems. The artist's installation scope includes all labor, permit fees, equipment, supervision, testing services, and related costs.

Designs must demonstrate environmentally sensitive landscape design with water management as a key element. The garden must be accessible to people with disabilities and comply with ADA requirements. Designs should avoid elaborate maintenance requirements, as maintenance will be carried out by faculty, students, and URI's Master Gardener Program. The work should include artistic sculptural or structural components visible from neighboring buildings and have year-round aesthetic interest, particularly in winter months. The design process must be participatory with College of Pharmacy representatives and responsive to their research and educational needs. Applicants should submit six images of current work (completed within the past five years), resumes, and a brief description of their site-specific proposal with a rough outline of expenses not to exceed $500,000. Three finalists will be selected from the pool of applicants.