Call to Designers and Fabricators: Signature Sign Project, City of Kelowna

Call to Designers and Fabricators
Expression of Interest (EOI)
City of Kelowna – Signature Sign Project

Submission Deadline: January 31, 2025

Introduction

The City of Kelowna, the “City”, invites professional design teams to submit their expression of interest for the creation of an iconic city signature sign to celebrate the City.

The genesis of a city signature sign is a strategic initiative from the City council and founded in the desire to create a cultural identity that best reflects the community’s special sense of place. It will serve as a high-profile landmark to provide an opportunity for gathering, meeting and sharing special moments, a meaningful contextual connection for visitors and residents in the community.

A creative, innovative, and unique approach to achieve this placemaking sign project goes beyond the production of simple “Kelowna” letters. A highly desirable component of this project is the inclusion of symbolic and artistic gestures.

Budget

Project delivery has a budget of $500,000 CAD (exclusive of all applicable taxes). This budget includes all costs directly associated with the signature sign: fees for the design, fabrication, installation, professional services including engineering, permitting as required, insurance, travel and other incidental expenses.

Objectives

The overarching project objectives related to the signature sign form key strategic elements for guiding the development of the signature sign. The following objectives align with the several core values from the City and community.

• Welcoming Tourists and Visitors
• Providing unique photographic opportunities
• Creating an iconic gathering space
• Showcasing innovation and technology
• Relationship building – First Nations
• Promoting activity on the waterfront
• City of Kelowna Values (vision, mindset, growth, skills)
• An artful approach – dynamic and artistic
• Interactive – creative and playful
• Contextual relevance, storytelling, environment

Team Eligibility and Selection Process

Design teams for this opportunity will be selected through an open two-stage competition as described below.

The City invites interested parties to submit their expressions of interest electronically (see Submission Process below).

This competition is open to all professional designers from a range of backgrounds e.g. audiovisual/electronics, marketing professionals, landscape architects, architects, engineers and fabricators with professional credentials related to their respective industry.

Stage 1 Submission Requirements
(no detailed designs)

Include the following information:

1. Expression of Interest:
A written statement – no more than 2 pages – including:

• The reason for the interest in this opportunity;
• Why their professional practice is suitable for this project context;
• What their experience in design projects could bring to this project.

2. Design Team Resume:

• Name(s) and contact information (including all members of design team)
• Education and relevant work experience;
• List three (3) references including name and contact information, title/organizational affiliation and relationship to the artist – full reference letters are not required at this time.

3. Examples of Past Work:

• A list of completed design projects (no more than 3) relevant to this opportunity including date of completion, budget, materials, description of concept, design and fabrication process.
• Images/photography/video of listed projects (no more than 2 each).

All information provided shall remain as property of the City and will be used solely for the purpose of evaluation.

Submission Process

Please submit through the City’s online portal at: kelowna.bonfirehub.ca/portal
Submissions by other methods may not be accepted.

All correspondence through Bonfire will go to the individual who submitted the submission. If the project manager wishes to receive notifications, all submissions for the Opportunity will need to be made under that account.

Minimum system requirements are Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. JavaScript must be enabled.

Uploading large documents may take significant time, depending on the size of the file(s) and your Internet connection speed.

You will receive an email confirmation receipt with a unique confirmation number once you finalize your submission.

Submitters should contact Bonfire at Support@GoBonfire.com for technical questions related to submissions, or visit Bonfire’s help forum at bonfirehub.zendesk.com/hc

Questions? Please contact Alaina Schaad, Buyer – purchasing@kelowna.ca

City of Kelowna
City Hall 1435 Water Street
Kelowna, BC V1Y 1J4
Connect with the City | kelowna.ca

Image credits: City of Kelowna