RFQ: Nixon Road Roundabout Public Art, Ann Arbor, MI

Contact InformationAnn Arbor Art CenterContact Email: [email protected] Phone: 734-926-4122

Requirement OverviewLocation Eligibility Type: NationalEligible Applicant Types: ArtistSubmission Limit: 1Media RequirementsImages | Min: 10, Max: 10Audio | Min: 0, Max: 0Video | Min: 0, Max: 3Total | Min: 10, Max: 13

Opportunity SummaryNixon Road Roundabout Public Art in Ann Arbor, MIBudget: $75,000Description:The City of Ann Arbor invites artists, designers, or artist teams to submit qualifications to create a permanent, site-specific public artwork along the Nixon Road corridor in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This opportunity is part of the City’s streetscape improvements to Nixon Road, spanning approximately one mile between Huron Parkway and Dhu Varren/Green Road. Three roundabouts and adjacent sidewalk areas near bus stops offer potential locations for artwork. Artists may propose a cohesive series distributed along the corridor or focus on a single location. The City welcomes a range of approaches responding to the community and diverse daily activities along the corridor.

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General InformationOPPORTUNITYThe City of Ann Arbor invites artists, designers, or artist teams to submit qualifications to create a permanent, site-specific public artwork along the Nixon Road corridor in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This opportunity is part of the City’s streetscape improvements to Nixon Road, spanning approximately one mile between Huron Parkway and Dhu Varren/Green Road. Three roundabouts and adjacent sidewalk areas near bus stops offer potential locations for artwork. Artists may propose a cohesive series distributed along the corridor or focus on a single location. The City welcomes a range of approaches responding to the community and diverse daily activities along the corridor. PROJECT BACKGROUNDNixon Road is located in the northeast area of Ann Arbor and serves as a main transportation corridor connecting surrounding townships and rural areas to retail and service destinations along Plymouth Road, Logan Elementary and Clague Middle School, the University of Michigan’s North Campus, and further pathways to downtown Ann Arbor. The neighborhood surrounding this section of Nixon Road includes apartments, single-family homes, condominiums, duplexes, and newer residential developments. The community is culturally diverse and includes long-term residents as well as university students.Historically, much of the area was farmland until the 1960s. Today, Nixon Road serves a wide range of transportation modes, including vehicles, public buses, bicycles, and pedestrians. The corridor is an active part of everyday neighborhood life, with residents walking to nearby stores, families and students traveling to and from schools, people traveling north to access nearby Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms for locally grown produce, and commuters moving through the area. The City of Ann Arbor initiated the reconstruction of Nixon Road to improve safety, expand non-motorized transportation facilities, reduce user delays, and improve access throughout the corridor. Construction began in 2025 and is currently in its final phase, with completion anticipated in Fall 2026. The reconstruction project is managed by Wade Trim Engineers.Previous public art in the neighborhood nearby include a beloved 2007 community painted flower mural across more than 1,000 ft of residential fences and a water tower featuring painted clouds. Over time, the flower mural gradually changed as residents replaced their fences, and only portions of the original mural remain today. Together, these projects reflect moments when art became part of the everyday landscape. This commission offers an exciting opportunity to introduce permanent public art to the Nixon Road corridor on a new scale and create a distinctive, lasting presence for the neighborhood. PROJECT + SITE DETAILSArtists can review a site information packet with site plans, photographs, approximate dimensions, and maps identifying potential artwork and foundation locations by clicking this link.Roundabout 1 at Sandalwood CircleThis roundabout is located at the entrance to Parkway Meadows Apartments. Potential artwork locations include designated areas within the roundabout, as well as areas near the bus stop, low retaining wall, and adjacent sidewalk. Existing trees and plantings within the roundabout may be relocated as necessary to accommodate an approved artwork. A bus stop is located on the east side of Nixon Road.Roundabout 2 at Meade Court and Bluett DriveThis roundabout is adjacent to single-family homes, condominiums, and duplexes. One area within the roundabout has been identified as a potential artwork location. Existing trees and plantings may be relocated as necessary to accommodate an approved artwork. The bus stop is located on the west side of Nixon Road.Roundabout 3 at Traver BlvdThis roundabout is located near the Clague Middle School, the newly constructed Logan Elementary School, and surrounding single-family homes, condominiums, and duplexes. Potential artwork locations include two areas within the roundabout as well as areas near the sidewalk. Existing trees and plantings may be relocated as necessary to accommodate an approved artwork. The bus stop is located on the east side of Nixon Road. DESIGN GUIDELINES AND CONSIDERATIONSThe City and selection committee anticipate that proposals will primarily consist of three-dimensional artwork, while welcoming a broad range of artistic approaches. Artists interested in incorporating two-dimensional imagery are encouraged to consider sculptural or dimensional substrates so that the work functions effectively within the three-dimensional public environment.The selected artist may propose a single artwork at one selected location or a series of related artworks distributed among multiple locations. The design should respond thoughtfully to the site, c