Borchuck Plaza Public Arts Project

Prospectus

Reimagining the Fountain

East Tennessee State University (ETSU) received creative design proposals from artists or artist teams for a public fountain that commemorates the first five African American students to integrate ETSU. Five finalists have been selected and notified. The selected artist/team will design, fabricate, and install a permanent public fountain in Borchuck Plaza, in front of Sherrod Library, in the heart of ETSU's campus. This project will replace the fountain currently in the plaza, which was damaged in a severe weather event. 

Budget: $225,000 (contingent upon a successful campaign)

Location

Address: Borchuck Plaza, East Tennessee State University
344 JL Seehorn Jr. Rd. 
Johnson City, TN 37604

The plaza is located in front of the Sherrod Library on ETSU’s main campus and is comprised of a circular plaza, benches, and a centrally located circular brick display area. The scope of public artwork shall be confined to an existing 20 ft diameter circular display area (memorial placement area) in the center of the circular plaza. The existing circular display area has water and electrical access.

A sidewalk lined with green trees leads into an open plaza
A fountain bubbles in front of a massive brick building with sprawling arches and tall columns
An overhead view of an open plaza. Five sidewalks leading to the center form the arms of a star. Green trees surround it.

The sculpture to be commissioned will be located within the brick circle and replace the current fountain (pictured above). 

Project Criteria

  • The artwork must include a water feature but can also include other media. The site location does have existing underground water line access.
  • Artistic interpretation may be representational or non-representational in design. Creativity is encouraged.
  • The artwork must be structurally sound and safely secured.
  • The artwork must be of a scale large enough to be clearly visible from a distance.
  • The artwork must be capable of withstanding adverse weather conditions, including hot summers, cold winters, rain, wind, and snow.
  • The artwork must have a low exposure to pedestrian injury. The public must be protected from possible injury from materials.
  • The artwork must be original to the designer(s) and address the project theme of serving as a memorial to the first African American students to desegregate ETSU.

Budget

The budget is not to exceed $225,000 for the entire project. This budget is inclusive of all costs associated with the design, artist fee, planning, materials, engineering, permitting, fabrication, shipping, installation, completion of the project, and maintenance plan for the artwork. This budget is to include all travel costs and insurance. This budget does not include the costs for initial proposal design and travel outlined in Phase 2 below.

Timeline

The time for the project is August 2023 - August 2024.

Path for Design Submission

Phase 1:  Request for Qualifications [Complete]
Phase 2:  Design Phase (artists receive 3k)
Phase 3:  Presentation of Final Design by Finalists
Phase 4:  Design Selection, Construction Begins
Phase 5:  Installation of Artwork

Phase 2 Design Phase [in process]

  • Finalists will design a public artwork to commemorate the first five African American students to integrate at ETSU.
  • Completed designs are to be submitted no later than February 15, 2024.


Phase 3 Presentation of Final Design

  • Finalists will travel to ETSU's campus to make a final presentation to a selection committee at a public meeting.
  • Presentations are to be scheduled for the first two weeks of March 2024.


Phase 4 Final Selection

  • The final artist selection and design will be determined and announced by April 2024.
  • As noted in the prospectus, this project’s budget of $225,000 is contingent upon a successful fundraising campaign. Phase Five and the construction of artwork will not begin until the total project budget amount has been secured.
  • Fundraising may extend through Summer 2024. 


Phase 5 Construction/Installation

  • The selected finalist would be given 6 months from start date for completion and installation of artwork.
  • The start date will be determined by a successful fundraising campaign.