SLC Airport Roundabout Art

Salt Lake City International Airport is the first hub airport built in the 21st century, with construction of The New SLC scheduled for completion in October 2026. Recently, the airport was given top honors in the 2025 ASQ Customer Experience Awards, including Best Airport, Cleanest Airport and Most Enjoyable Airport in North America by size and region. More than 28 million passengers experienced SLC in 2025.

The airport celebrates art throughout the new Terminal and two concourses, perhaps most notably with The Canyon and The River Tunnel, which connects Concourse A and Concourse B. Styled after the natural landscapes of Utah, these large installations, along with outdoor sculptures at the entrance and exit of the airport, celebrate the unique beauty and culture of the state.

SLC is a 10-minute drive to the heart of Salt Lake City, which serves as an urban hub with two major league sports teams, a lively entertainment and dining scene, along with world-class outdoor recreation, inclu...

The Salt Lake City Department of Airports is reconfiguring a public road located north of the airport on 4000 West. As part of the construction, a roundabout will be added to assist with traffic flow and safety. A sculpture installation is planned for the center of the roundabout that complements the artistic feel of SLC, touching themes of flight and the natural landscapes of Utah. The roadway is currently used primarily by airport employees, Delta Air Lines reservation center employees, FAA tower employees and SLC  fire. Cargo trucks delivering to and from the UPS, FedEx and DHL terminals also utilize this road.  The airport property serves as the only structures in the area, as the surrounding land consists of wetland ecosystems. 

The roadway where the roundabout is located is currently used primarily by airport employees, Delta Air Lines reservation center employees, FAA tower employees and SLC  fire. Cargo trucks delivering to and from the UPS, FedEx and DHL terminals also utilize this road.  The airport property serves as the only structures in the area, as the surrounding land consists of wetland ecosystems.

Application Requirements

 All applicants must provide the following:

Breakaway Design: Sculpture(s) must include breakaway connections (e.g., bolts) between the sculpture and its foundation to meet traffic safety standards.

Creative Design: should reflect the theme of “Flight.” Preference will be given to a theme that celebrates the natural beauty of Utah, flight and local culture.

Design Approach: artwork should be designed “in the round,” meaning it looks complete and engaging from a 360-degree perspective.

Driver Safety: artwork must not distract drivers or create disorientation. Highly reflective materials are discouraged.

Foundation: the artist is responsible for the site work, including the building of a foundation for the sculpture.

Landscaping: the airport’s in-house landscaping team may provide minimal rockscaping. Irrigation water access is not provided for landscaping.

Lighting: no electricity will be available at the site. Solar lighting is a possibility; however, this feature would need to be included in the total project costs budget.

Materials: artwork must be made from durable, permanent outdoor materials that are:

Safe for public environments

Low maintenance

Proven effective in similar public art installations

Pedestrian Activity: the roundabout is not intended for pedestrian access. Interactive features and designs that encourage people to stop or take selfies are discouraged.

Prohibited Features: water elements and kinetic (moving) features are not allowed.

Public Appropriateness: artwork must be suitable for all ages.

Scale and Detail: artwork should be bold enough to capture the attention of drivers but not so intricate that it requires close viewing or prolonged inspection.

Security: artwork must be designed to discourage theft and vandalism.

Size: the usable area for the art installation is 75’ in diameter. The area is graded flat and unpaved.

Weather Resistance: the sculpture(s) must withstand extreme weather  conditions, including:

-High winds

-Intense sun

-Summer temperatures exceeding 110° F

-Lingering snow

-Winter temperatures below 20° F

-Artists are encouraged to research materials and colors for proven alpine desert durability.

Visibility: the sculpture(s) must maintain clear sightlines for drivers. It must enhance, not compromise, site and traffic safety.

Current artist resume (pdf)

No more than three pages

Include relevant public art experience, particularly with durable materials and sculpture.

Letter of Interest

Express  interest in the project

How does past work and experience demonstrate successful completion of art design goals for this project?

Three professional references

Each should list name, title, organization and contact information.

One client who can verify the successful completion of a public art project.

Two additional creative references.

List only references who have permission to discuss your work and artistic experience and consent to being contacted.