District Entry Artwork: Historic Downtown Plano Arts District

About the Project

The City of Plano is commissioning a permanent District Entry Artwork to mark entry into the Historic Downtown Plano Arts District at the northeast corner of G Ave. and 15th St. The artwork should function as a landmark-quality beacon and be visually strong during the day and at night.

The site includes a landscape bed with established trees and shrubs maintained by the City’s Parks division, and an existing monument feature that will be removed. The area immediately northeast of the landscape bed is a privately owned church parking lot. The northwest corner of the intersection is City-owned, and City services operate at 777 E 15th St. The intersection is active, and traffic and sightlines must be considered in the artwork’s placement and form.

The artwork must be compatible with Downtown Plano’s historic period of focus, 1890 to 1936, through form, materials, detailing, and overall character. Compatibility does not require the overall artwork to imitate historic architecture or design details. Creative and contemporary interpretations are encouraged, provided the artwork demonstrates an understanding of the district's period of focus and reinforces its sense of place and heritage. It must permanently incorporate the words Heritage, Arts District, and Downtown Plano. It must look good during the day and at night, but it cannot be backlit or internally lit. The design must deter birds from nesting or roosting and must be durable and low maintenance for a permanent outdoor streetscape environment.

This call is for the artwork concept and artist-led fabrication plan. Site demolition, foundations, utilities, and landscaping will be performed by a separate contractor. Finalists and the selected artist must clearly communicate overall dimensions and weight, anchoring and attachment requirements, and installation needs so the site contractor can prepare the foundation and interface conditions

Selection Process

·         A Selection Committee consisting of a member of the Downtown Public Improvement District, Heritage Commission, Cultural Arts Commission, a Downtown business owner and a Downtown resident  will review all applicants.

·         Three to five finalists will be invited to move on in the process.

·         Finalists must attend a mandatory site visit in Plano, Texas to meet with the Project Team (Parks & Recreation, Heritage Preservation Officer, Engineering and Special Projects, Traffic), as well as others.

·         Finalists will be paid $1,000 to cover travel and their proposal for the finalist round

·         After the site visit, finalists will be asked to create a site-specific design proposal. See Phase 2 for the submission requirements.

·         The City Council will make the final decision on the artist selection with a recommendation from the Selection Committee.