RFQ: Colorado State University, Veterinary Health & Education Complex

 Qualifications are requested from artists interested in creating artworks for the Veterinary Health and Education Complex at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. Multiple artworks will be commissioned and the total funding available is up to $325,000. The deadline for submission is April 18, 2025.

 Qualifications are requested from artists interested in creating artworks for the Veterinary Health and Education Complex at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. Multiple artworks will be commissioned and the total funding available is up to $325,000. The deadline for submission is April 18, 2025.

Project Description - About Colorado State University and Veterinary Health & Education Complex

Founded in 1870 as the Colorado Agricultural College, Colorado State University is now among the nation's leading research universities, with annual research expenditures above $300 million. Located in Fort Collins, Colorado’s land-grant university currently enrolls about 33,000 total students, including 4,000 graduate students and 580 Professional Veterinary Medicine students, and has more than 1,800 faculty members working in eight colleges. More information is available at www.colostate.edu.

Colorado State University (CSU)  is one of the nation’s top public Tier 1 Research universities and an institution on the rise. CSU is a higher education destination for working and learning for faculty, staff, and students from across Colorado, the nation, and around the globe. CSU has produced record enrollment in the past decade, built on all-time highs in student inclusivity and student success, experienced record fundraising and research expenditures that keep hitting new highs year-after-year, and our faculty are known nationally and internationally for their groundbreaking research. Among other recognition for research and creative scholarship, CSU was recognized in 2022 as one of 10 top research institutions in the world contributing to solving the COVID pandemic. CSU is thriving, with a five-year average enrollment of more than 33,400 students. The 2024 incoming class of 5,485 students is our second largest ever and included 31% from diverse populations and 23% who were first in their families to attend college. The Fort Collins campus had a total student headcount of 34,218 for 2024-25. 

 CSU’s Veterinary Health and Education Complex will be a 420,000-square-foot (SF) complex consisting of a primary care clinic, animal specialty hospital, and veterinary education center. Renovations to the existing building will allow it to house the majority of tertiary care spaces along with research laboratories and building support spaces. The new 208,000-SF addition will house the new primary care clinic and a cutting-edge veterinary education center with wet and dry skills labs, large lecture halls, and active learning classrooms. This physical expansion is being made concurrently with a programmatic renewal of the veterinary medicine curriculum. The cohesive new space will allow this world-renowned veterinary teaching program to be housed almost entirely within the veterinary hospital on this campus. The primary care clinic will provide critical first-hand learning experiences to all veterinary students throughout their 4 year curriculum. Additionally, the expanded space will allow for increased student enrollment over the next 5 years, addressing a national shortage in veterinary professionals. 

In addition to the clinical and education components, this facility will provide much-needed student and faculty support spaces that will bring people together outside of focused learning and healthcare environments. Additionally, these community-driven spaces will support health and wellbeing initiatives across the campus and university. This project is currently in design and, upon completion, will increase companion animal health outcomes, improve veterinary education, and empower the well-being of students, faculty, and hospital staff.

Budget: Up to $325,000

All costs associated with the commissioned public artworks, including, but not limited to, artist fee, insurance, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, building or site modifications, including lighting, travel to and from the site, per diem expenses, project documentation, contingency to cover unexpected expenses and any other costs related to the project are covered by the budget. Budgets for the specific locations will be provided to the semifinalists.

Opportunities for Public Art

The committee is looking for artworks that address at least two, and potentially more, of the potential locations for the Veterinary and Health Education Complex. Among the interior locations available for artwork are wall-mounted opportunities and one ceiling-hung location. The committee is also considering artwork for two possible exterior locations. The facility already has a good number of bronze sculptures on its exterior, so the committee is not interested in commissioning additional bronze sculptures for this opportunity.

The committee is interested in multiple artworks from multiple artists; the total budget of $325,000 will be split between multiple commissions, in amounts to be determined. There is potential for a single artist to create artwork in multiple locations to create connections between spaces in the building. Due to the number of locations and budget size, not all locations will be chosen; final locations will depend on the type and strength of the submissions received.

The committee is interested in artworks that address what is happening in the building, with a focus on the partnerships and relationships between people and animals. Media of all types will be considered, as well as artworks in a variety of styles. Due to maintenance considerations, artwork incorporating lighting, water, or interactive technology is not of interest for this project. All wall-mounted artwork should meet ADA requirements. The first floor of the building will be public facing, as it will be used to access veterinary care; floors two and three will be utilized by students, faculty and other staff. 

Please see below for a description of each location:

Location 1 is three dividing walls in the waiting area of the veterinary clinic, located on the first floor of the building. This area will be utilized by members of the public when they visit the facility to access care for their pets. One side of each of the walls will have monitors but the reverse side of all three walls will be available for artwork.

Location  2A - 2C are multiple walls to the left of the main atrium staircase on floors 1, 2 and 3. This is a potential opportunity for a single artist to create a series of artworks that create a sense of wayfinding in the building by addressing all three of these locations as a unit (i.e., 2A, 2B, 2C). 

Location 3 is a floor-mounted sculptural opportunity in a first floor seating area.

Location 4 is a large two-part  wall in the lobby area of the first floor.

Location 5 is a wall in the lobby area of the first floor, located across from Location 4. This location is adjacent to one of the main entries for students.

Location 6 is a wall in a hallway located between treatment rooms and the emergency room on the first floor.

Location 7 is a wall to the left at the top of the main atrium staircase on the second floor.

Location 8 is a wall to the left at the top of the main atrium staircase on the third floor.

Location 9 is a wall in the corridor across from Location 8 on the third floor.

Location 10 is a wall in the corridor on the third floor.

Location 11 is a wall at an entrance to the auditorium space on the third floor.

Location 12 is a ceiling and three-floor volume space. The committee is excited for the potential of a hanging artwork that highlights this open area and would be visible from multiple floors. Two hanging points can be accommodated to support the hanging artwork, each capable of supporting 500lbs.

Location 13 is an exterior location in the building’s outdoor classroom. This area has a covered structure. Please note that this location has not been rendered or modeled, so no images are available below.

Location 14 is a sculptural location option on the exterior of the building located next to an exterior patio space.

Please refer to the site plans and renderings at the end of this RFQ document (provided by Clark & Enersen) for more information, including dimensions of each opportunity location.

 The Selection Committee will consider the following:

• Artistic excellence 
• Scale, material, form and content
• Safety of materials
• Appropriate relationship to the function of the site
• Resistance to general wear, vandalism, or theft
• Ease of maintenance, minimal and low-cost maintenance

All applications for this project are being accepted through the online platform, CaFÉ™ (www.callforentry.org). No hard copy or emailed submissions will be accepted. The applicant will be asked to submit digital images of art, a resume, and a brief statement of interest. There is no application fee to apply or to use the CaFÉ™ online application system. If you need assistance in using the CaFÉ™ system, please refer to this Help for Artists webpage. You can also reach out to them via this Contract CaFÉ™ Support form or email cafehelp@wearecreativewest.org.

• Digital Images. In order to be considered for this project, the applicant must electronically submit, via the CaFÉ™ system, no less than six (6) and no more than eight (8) digital images of previously completed artworks. 
• Resume: Submit a current résumé, via CaFÉ™, that outlines professional accomplishments as an artist.
• Statement of Interest: A statement of interest of 250 words or less must be submitted via CaFÉ™. It should briefly outline the interest in the specific opportunity. 
• Location: Applicant will be asked to select the location or locations of interest for this opportunity.

All applicants must be residents of the United States and application must have a US address. Artists from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities are encouraged to apply.