Request for Proposals –
7th Street South & Post Public Art Project
The City of Lethbridge is inviting Artists to submit Request for Proposals for a public art project in conjunction with the recent modernization and repurposing of the city’s historical post office and the replacement of an adjacent sidewalk. The art project provides three distinct installation opportunities:
A major walkway connecting the downtown transit hub with the center of downtown
A metal divider adjacent to the loading area for the modernized facility
A series of ground level windows in the building adjacent to the newly upgraded sidewalk
Proposed artworks should enhance the buildings south wing while respecting the original building’s historical presence and value as well as creating an enjoyable pedestrian journey. The selected artist will be responsible for conceptualizing, designing, fabricating and installing permanent artworks that add vibrancy to the downtown environment and improve the pedestrian experience.
7th Street
7th Street serves as a primary pedestrian street with some of the highest pedestrian volumes in Downtown. It connects the Lethbridge Park ’n Ride Transit Terminal to the heart of the downtown core which includes many businesses, Galt Gardens urban park, a community arts centre, a contemporary art gallery and a downtown retail shopping mall. The street is also a designated bicycle travel route and will have cycle lanes constructed in Spring 2022. As part of the Post Office redevelopment project and the 7th Street cycling lanes, restorative work is planned for the sidewalk with the inclusion of a snowmelt heating system.
The Post Building
“Post” is the new name for the building formerly known as the J.D. Higginbotham Building and locally referred to as the downtown Canada Post building. The classic beaux-arts Tyndall stone building has been a local landmark since its construction as the result of an investment from the federal government over one hundred years ago.
Today, the building is privately owned through investments from local parties. The rebrand to Post, along with extensive redevelopment of the buildings dated office space, are important indicators of the historical building’s transition from a federally owned facility to a locally held private entity. The building’s redevelopment is designed to turn the landmark into a vibrant new hub for downtown businesses and innovation through an offering of individual office condo units.
Budget
The all-inclusive budget for the design, fabrication and installation of the 7 Street South & Post Public Art Project is $180,000 plus GST. This fee will be inclusive of all project costs.
Eligibility
The competition is open to qualified professional visual artists as defined by the Canada Council for the Arts. This professional context excludes the school environment, and so a student attending college or in an undergraduate degree program at a university may not enter this competition.
