RFQ: Call for Artistic Installations at Intersection Crossings along West Colfax Avenue
City of Lakewood and 40 West Arts District

KEY INFORMATION

· Submission of Qualifications Deadline: Sunday August 31st, 2025 at midnight

· Finalist Notification: Week of September 15th, 2025 (approximate)

· Finalist Design Deadline: Four weeks following finalist notification (exact date will be provided during notification process)

· Installation Date: Spring 2026

· Finalist Design Stipend: $750

· Artist Stipend: $50,000 (inclusive of all costs and materials)

CREATIVE BRIEF
The City of Lakewood and 40 West Arts District seek an artist or artist team to install three artworks along concrete barriers located at three pedestrian Z Crossings along Lakewood’s West Colfax Corridor, as part of the West Colfax Transportation Safety Project (more details below).

Artists are invited to use appropriate, long-term outdoor materials to create three unique, innovative artistic elements that will be seen by all but prioritized by pedestrian traffic to these crosswalks. Artistic elements will be adhered to the concrete barriers adjacent to the crosswalk push buttons and can extend vertically, horizontally, and surrounding the bush button elements, depending on artist vision and adhering to City and CDOT requirements for safety, accessibility, and intended lifespan of materials.

Beyond these limitations, artists are truly invited to approach these artworks using bold styles, colors, concepts and patterns. We are truly open to a creative and unique artist approach. If you are selected as a finalist, you may submit more than one design concept for review.

WEST COLFAX SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
The West Colfax Transportation Safety Project is an opportunity to create a safer and more comfortable experience for pedestrians, transit users, and motorists along the iconic West Colfax Avenue in Lakewood, between Sheridan boulevard and Teller street. This segment of West Colfax has the highest concentration of traffic injuries and deaths in Lakewood; in a five-year period ending in 2019, there were six deaths, with multiple additional deaths since that study period.

The three top priorities, as identified after extensive community feedback, are that of improving safety, creating a vibrant community asset that incorporates art, and minimizing impacts during construction. Project components include consistent sidewalks through repurposing the outside lanes of traffic; adding designated pedestrian crossings in specific locations; establishing pullouts for buses and providing bus stop amenities; improving street lighting for safety; and enhancing driver safety through various improvements.

Z CROSSING DESCRIPTION
Z Crossings are an important element of the West Colfax Safety Improvement Project and will be located at three intervals along West Colfax between Sheridan Blvd. and Teller Street. A Z Crossing is a type of pedestrian crossing designed to enhance safety by providing a refuge area in the middle of the street. It is characterized by a Z shape that forces pedestrians to cross in two stages, with a safe stage in the middle to pause and assess traffic. Artists will be working utilizing the concrete infrastructure on the Z Crossings adjacent to the crosswalk bush buttons for their artwork installation. See images below for more details.

ARTIST REQUIREMENTS
Artist will be responsible for the design, fabrication, delivery and installation of the artworks within the given budget including using appropriate materials for the surface. Artist is responsible for all materials, supplies, subcontracting, fabrication, installation, and other costs associated with this project. For this project, artist will be paid a $50,000 stipend. Artist will assume all responsibility for insurance, logistics, and site management.

Artist must have the requisite skills, background, and capacity to create and install outdoor, semi-permanent sculptural installations. Artist will be responsible for the cost and maintenance of the artwork for a period of two years. After that, The City of Lakewood and 40 West Arts District will be responsible for maintenance of the artwork. Artwork is intended to be permanent/semi-permanent. Materials, design, and approach should reflect the long-term endurance of the artwork in an outdoor, heavily car-trafficked environment.

Due to high pedestrian traffic and easy public access, artworks must be fabricated with no dangerous edges or protrusions, be inaccessible for climbing, and be durable and suited for Colorado’s variable climate (including intense sun, wind, hail and/or snow). Additionally, artwork is intended to be fabricated at pedestrian scale. CDOT and the City of Lakewood must ensure that artwork does not block or encumber automobile views. Artwork that is too high or large in scale cannot be considered.

Red boxes indicates spaces where an artwork could be placed. Green box indicates area around crosswalk button. Artwork may also be placed here subject to pedestrian and visibility approval via CDOT and the City of Lakewood. Addtionally, artworks may have some height however must not impede visibility.

PROJECT TIMELINE

1. RFQ submission deadline: Sunday August 31, 2025 at midnight

2. Finalist Selection and Notification: Week of September 15, 2025 (approximate)

3. Finalist Formal Conceptual Proposals Due: Four weeks following finalist notification (exact date to be provided after finalists are selected and notified)

4. Public Input on Finalist Proposals: October-November 2025

5. Formal Interviews on Finalist Proposals: October-November 2025

6. Artist Selection: November-December 2025

7. Artist Fabrication: Winter 2025/2026

8. Artist Installation: Spring 2026

9. Project Completion and Unveiling: No later than May 30, 2026 (dependent on weather and other factors as determined by both artist and staff)

RFQ SUBMISSION PROCESS
Interested artists should submit, no later than the deadline of Sunday August 31st, 2025 at midnight, a SINGLE PDF packet to submissions@40westarts.org that includes the following:

· Resume/CV of Artist

· Visual documentation of similar/related completed public artworks, community projects, outdoor installations or other

· Statement of interest and ability to execute on project

· Statement of process and approach to project

· Explanation of materials proposed, longevity, artistic and fabrication process, and other pertinent information

· Links to social media, website, etc. for other representations of artworks

· As a reminder, you must submit via a SINGLE PDF packet. We reserve the right to refuse submissions not packaged in this format.

PARTNERS
The City of Lakewood: Lakewood is Colorado’s fifth largest City with a population of approximately 155,000. Originally a farming community, Lakewood incorporated in 1969 and has grown into a robust, diverse municipality with urban, suburban, and rural elements and a strong community focus.

40 West Arts: 40 West Arts is a state-certified Creative District located along historic West Colfax Avenue and with the mission of highlighting and supporting art, creativity and economic development in the corridor through events, exhibitions, experiences and more.

ELIGIBILITY
All artists are eligible. You must be able to make all deadlines listed above.

Questions? Email: info@40westarts.org | Learn more at www.40WestArts.org

RFQ: Call for Artistic Installations at Intersection Crossings