Art in Architecture Project for the Clarksburg Courthouse Project Phase 2-5, Clarksburg, West Virginia

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Art in Architecture Program commissions American artists (citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents or Permanent Workers of the United States) to create publicly scaled and permanently installed artworks for Federal buildings nationwide. GSA announces an opportunity for a Federal art commission in conjunction with the modernization of the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse in Clarksburg, West Virginia.

The U.S. Post Office and Courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing element to the Downtown Clarksburg Historic District and is located on the western edge of the Clarksburg central business district.

This property was formerly under the jurisdiction, custody, and control of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) but became a part of GSA’s real property inventory in September of 2020. USPS vacated the building in 2021. The modernization project is a multi-phase effort to improve the facilities of the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia and backfill the vacant USPS space.

The project includes the construction of a new courtroom and chambers, jury assembly room, and grand jury trial room, alterations in building circulation for accessibility, security, and life safety, and replacement of under performing mechanical equipment. GSA allocates one-half of one percent (0.5%) of the estimated construction costs of new or modernized Federal facilities for art commissions. The art budget for the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse project is estimated to be $225,000.

One or more artists will be awarded a fixed-price contract for a commission. Artists who wish to be considered for this commission may submit their materials for this project only, but are encouraged to submit application materials to GSA’s National Artist Registry (Registry) to be considered for future commissions. The Registry constitutes the qualified list of artists for all GSA commissions.

Instructions on how to join the Registry are available on the following Web site:www.gsa.gov/artinarchitecture GSA evaluates artists based on the following criteria: the media, materials, content, style and scope of the artist’s past work, along with the artist’s past performance and experience with commissions or projects similar to the one described in this synopsis.

Shortlisted artists will be contacted and asked to submit additional information, including a statement that the artist can perform the work associated with the GSA commission within the identified budget. GSA will count the combined weight of all the selection criteria as significantly more important than price.

At a minimum, the scope of services for this commission will require: collaboration with the lead designer selected for the building project; development of preliminary and final concepts; fabrication of the artwork; participation in meetings and conservation reviews as necessary; and the installation of the artwork at the project site. GSA will prioritize commissioning artworks in accordance with 41 FMR 102-77.21.

All artists who wish to be considered as candidates for a commission at the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse in Clarksburg, West Virginia, must have their application materials submitted and received by GSA by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on Thursday 18 July 2024. Artists’ submissions received after the deadline will not be considered for this project, but will be eligible for consideration on future GSA commissions alongside the other artists on the Registry. Artists already on the Registry need not resubmit, but may elect to update their information prior to the deadline.