PUBLIC ART COMMISSION APPLICATION FORM
Project information
1 2 3 4 5
TYPE OF PROJECTS
Conceptual Review
Conceptual/Final Review Final Review
Courtesy Review
HAS THIS PROJECT EVER COME BEFORE ART COMMISSION
No Yes When __/__/___ DURATION OF PROJECT
From___/__/___to ___/__/___
Permanent
Applicant information
NAME________________________________________________
MAILING ADDRESS_____________________________________ CITY ____________________STATE_____________ZIP_________
PHONE_________________EMAIL_________________________ RELATIONSHIP OR ROLE IN PROJECT ______________________________________________________
CO-APPLICANT
NAME________________________________________________
MAILING ADDRESS_____________________________________
____________________STATE_____________ZIP_________ PHONE_________________EMAIL_________________________
Project Location
ADDRESS_____________________________________________________________________________
CROSS STREETS OR OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION_____________________________________
NEIGHBORHOOD OR SECTOR__________________________________________________________
Budget
HOW ARE YOU PLANNING TO FUND THE PROJECT ?
Please provide a simple budget that describe cost of materials, artist fees, maintenance, installation, etc., as it pertains to the project.
APPLICATION DEADLINE & FORMAT
(1) Digital copy of full application as single PDF document
(1) PDF presentation or Power Point to be digitally projected at the Art Commission
Send materials to: rachel.rearick@pittsburghpa.gov
Along with this form submit the following requirements
* INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATIONAL STATMENT (250words max.)
* LETTER OF INTENT THAT INCLUDES HISTORY OF THE PROJECT AND IT’S IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY (500 words max.)
* VISUAL MATERIALS:
Conceptual Site plan & drawings in situ Photographs of the proposed location and adjacent uses Materials & Colors
Technical Drawings for Conceptual/Final Review
Final Construction Documents Site Plan Renderings Elevations Landscape Plan
* 2 LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM PROJECT PARTNERS OR NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITIES +1 LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
Mosaic Art Commission Application – Courtesy Review- November 29, 2017
Organizational Statement:
The Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County ( “SEA”) is managing the design of the I-579 “Cap” Urban Connector Project (“Cap” project). HDR Engineering has been contracted for the preliminary engineering and final design of the project. LaQuatra Bonci (“LBA”) is on the HDR team and is providing landscape design services. The City of Pittsburgh Office of Public Art had been engaged to coordinate surface design enhancements of the project.
For the construction of the “Cap” project, the SEA is working with the City of Pittsburgh (the “City”), PennDOT and FHWA. The project will be contracted by the City, and will be managed by PennDOT. The Project will be owned by the City upon completion of construction.
An existing condition of the “Cap” location is a pedestrian tunnel. On the walls of the tunnel is the Cantini Mosaic which is owned by the City of Pittsburgh.
Letter of Intent:
The "Cap" project will provide for a renewed physical connection between the Hill District and Downtown in the form of a new 3-acre public park above I-579 Crosstown Boulevard in Downtown Pittsburgh. Work will include surface park improvements such as recreation elements, ADA access, landscaping, programmable areas, integrated artwork, and other site improvements.
With respect to the Cantini Mosaic, the mosaic is currently located in a pedestrian underpass that runs under Bigelow Blvd at the project site. It consists of 28 panels and was installed in 1964 (see Visual Materials). The underpass is currently not ADA accessible. HDR evaluated potentially keeping the tunnel where the Cantini Mosaic is located, but determined the functionality of the future “Cap” park would be greatly impacted. If the tunnel would remain, ADA compliance throughout the future “Cap” park would be difficult and/or expensive and the presence of the tunnel would eliminate a significant portion of the usable park space. The tunnel removal also permits improvements to the intersection at the corner of Chatham Street and Bigelow Blvd that will allow for a safer crossing and further accessibility on the land north of the intersection, with a connection to Downtown.
Additionally, the existing tunnel itself presents a safety issue. The tunnel is a dark, hidden space which places pedestrians at risk. The project’s goal is to provide universal accessibility in a safe, highly visible park setting that can support appropriate security. Finally, the tunnel significantly impacts the design of the “Cap” park - its elimination will provide for approximately 30% greater usable area for park amenities.
City Planning staff briefed the Art Commission at April, May and July 2017 commission meetings regarding the mosaic artwork. Planning staff said that the Cantini Mosaic has been photo documented and was appraised at $45,000. Testing will be needed to confirm that the panels can be removed without damage.
The “Cap” design process has proceeded with the intent to remove and preserve the mosaic panels. The current design has three panels being reused in the “ Cap” park as shown on the attached rendering. Two of these panels were suggested by the Public Art and Civic Design Manager as they contain Virgil Cantini’s signature. The remaining panel was suggested by LBA as it fit best into the “Cap” park design. The cost estimate for relocating 3 panels is $46,000, and the cost estimate to remove the remaining panels and package them is $112,860. The SEA is working with the City to determine what to do with
Cantini Mosaic
Art Commission Application – Courtesy Review- November 29, 2017
the remaining panels not used on the surface (assuming that they are able to be removed without damaging them). HDR/LBA did investigate reusing all panels in the ”Cap” park but there is not an existing wall in the current design that is large enough to hold all of them. The cost estimate from HDR to reuse all of the panels would be $347,000.
On October 17, 2017 the SEA was notified by PennDOT of the need for the SEA to evaluate the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility of the Cantini Mosaic. The SEA has issued a supplement request to HDR, the project designer, for this work. HDR will be using their sub consultants, Christine Davis and Collective Efforts, to perform this work.
Christine Davis will complete the form to determine if the Cantini Mosaic is eligible for the National Register and submit to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission ( PHMC) PHMC will have up to 30 days to review the submission If it is not eligible, the process will be complete.
If the Cantini Mosaic is eligible for the National Register then the SEA will undertake additional steps. Those steps could include determination of effect, interested parties meeting and a mitigation plan of the Cantini Mosaic
Visual Materials
The relocation of 3 panels from Virgil Cantini’s Mosaic to be integrated in the “Cap” project. Attached are the following images:
1. Overall “Cap” project site plan – surface enhancements
2. Existing location of Cantini Mosaic
3. Proposed relocation of three panels, and wall enhancements
Project Budget
The costs associated with the Cantini Mosaic work includes the following:
- Relocation of three panels and associated wall: $46,000 (included in “Cap” budget)
- Removal and packaging of remaining panels: $112,860 (to be included in “Cap” budget)
Attached are the estimates to above.
Art Commission Application – Courtesy Review- November 29, 2017
Existing Location of Cantini Mosaic
Cantini Mosaic
Art Commission Application – Courtesy Review- November 29, 2017
Cantini Mosaic
Art Commission Application – Courtesy Review- November 29, 2017
Project Budget –Estimated Costs
Relocation of three panels and associated wall ($46,000) – included in budget:
Removal and packaging of remaining panels ($112,860) – to be included in budget:
Cantini Mosaic
