World Trade Center Memorial Project

The City of San Luis Obispo, in collaboration with the San Luis Obispo Fire and Police Departments, invites artists to apply for a public art project. The City has received an original steel beam from the fallen World Trade Center in New York City. The competition is for the design of a public art piece that will showcase the beam and create a World Trade Center Memorial on the premises of San Luis Obispo Fire Station No. 1 and the new San Luis Obispo Emergency Communications Center. The memorial will pay tribute to all innocent victims of the tragic events of September 11, 2001 and specifically to the 343 Firefighters and 60 Police Officers who lost their lives while rescuing those trapped in the Twin Towers. The steel I-Beam measures 9' 9½" x 11" x 19" (L x W x H) and weighs approximately 1500 lbs. The design should showcase the beam in a way that does justice to the artifact's national and historical significance. The memorial is not limited to any certain theme and should create a forum for reflection and commemoration, with themes such as rising back up, eternal flames, everlasting impressions, and the encouragement of touch encouraged.

The public art shall be located at the flag pole near the front entrance of San Luis Obispo Fire Station No. 1 at 2160 Santa Barbara Avenue. The exact placement will be at the original flag pole location, which will be relocated at time of art installation. The total project cost of $62,000 is all-inclusive and must cover every cost incurred by the artist including designing, engineering, fabricating, transporting and installing the artwork as well as travel, site preparation, special inspections, lighting and landscaping. The City will cover costs for plan review, City permits and utility costs.

The selection process is multi-phase. Stage 1 involves submission of applications by the deadline, which will be reviewed by the Public Art Manager and forwarded to a selection committee consisting of San Luis Obispo firefighters and police officers, San Luis Obispo County Arts Council members, local artists, interested community members, City staff and neighbors. Up to five semi-finalists will be invited to Stage 2. Semi-finalists will each receive a $700.00 honorarium for concept development and up to $700.00 reimbursement for travel expenses. Semi-finalists will have four weeks to develop up to three concept proposals and detailed budgets. Proposals will be evaluated on artistic excellence, compatibility with educational design, scale and form appropriateness, relationship to site identity, material appropriateness, installation methods, maintenance ease, budget feasibility, comparable project experience, and ideas for day of remembrance. The Jury's recommendation will be forwarded to City Council for final contract award. This competition is open to professional artists living in the United States. A Technical Assistance Workshop will be held on October 21, 2013 from 3:00–4:30 p.m. at Fire Station No. 1.