Art in Architecture Project

The General Services Administration (GSA) Art in Architecture Program commissions American artists (citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents or Permanent Workers of the United States) to create publicly scaled and permanently installed artworks for federal buildings nationwide. GSA announces an opportunity for a federal art commission in conjunction with the construction of a new U.S. Courthouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The new U.S. Courthouse in Cedar Rapids is being built to meet the needs of its various tenants which include Northern District of Iowa Courts, U.S. Attorney, GSA, and congressional offices and others. The eight-story, 288,000 square foot building will include highly visible public spaces. Among these, the most important is the centrally located six-story atrium. On axis with 1st Street in downtown Cedar Rapids, the atrium will be a signature architectural site for the greater area. In addition to hosting planned and impromptu meetings between visitors to the courthouse, it is anticipated that the space will also be used by community organizations and institutions for special events. Three other artists (two painters and one photographer) have received commissions to create work for other publicly accessible areas in this building. GSA is seeking experienced artists-particularly sculptors-to create a work of art for the atrium that is not a freestanding object. GSA generally allocates one-half of one percent of the estimated construction costs for new or modernized federal buildings for art commissions. The remaining commission for a work of art for the atrium will be approximately $450,000. One artist will be awarded a fixed-price contract for the remaining commission. Artists who wish to be considered for this and all future GSA art commissions must submit application materials to GSA's National Artists Registry (Registry). The Registry constitutes the qualified list of artists for this and all GSA commissions. Instructions on how to join the Registry are available on GSA Form 7437 and on the following Web site: www.gsa.gov/artinarchitecture All artists who wish to be considered as candidates for the commission for the new U.S. Courthouse in Cedar Rapids, IA must have their application materials submitted and received by GSA by 3:00 PM Eastern Time on September 30, 2010. Artists' submissions received after the deadline will not be considered for the U.S. Courthouse in Cedar Rapids project, but will be eligible for consideration on future GSA commissions alongside the other artists on the Registry. Artists already on the Registry need not resubmit, but may elect to update their information prior to the deadline. GSA evaluates artists based on the following criteria: the media, materials, content, style, and scope of the artist's past work, along with the artist's past performance and experience with commissions or projects similar to the one described in this synopsis. Short-listed artists will be contacted and asked to submit additional information, including a price proposal, for the new U.S. Courthouse in Cedar Rapids project. GSA has determined that the combined weight of all the technical selection criteria is significantly more important than price. At a minimum, the scope of services for this commission will require: collaboration with the lead-design architect selected for the building project; development of preliminary and final artist's concepts; fabrication of the artwork; participation in meetings and conservation reviews as necessary; and the installation of the artwork at the project site in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.