King County Wastewater Treatment, Elliott West Wet Weather Treatment Station Upgrade
One artist or artist team will be commissioned to create a site-specific artwork for the east glass stairwell façade and upper facing north glass window of the upgraded Elliott West Wet Weather Treatment Station.
Steps to Apply
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About the Project
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About the Project
Budget
$40,000 design fee. Inclusive of artist fees, collaboration with project team, research, design development. Implementation will be managed by 4Culture with a selected fabricator and includes materials, fabrication, on-site installation, construction credits, transportation and Washington State Sales/Use Tax. The artist will have the opportunity to review glass samples with 4Culture and WTD for collective approval. Additional travel funds of up to $5,000 will be allocated during the design phase. Travel for glass sample approval will be coordinated after the design phase as necessary.
Opportunity
King County Wastewater Treatment Division will be making improvements to the Elliott West Wet Weather Treatment Station or EWWTS. Since 2005, EWWTS has helped keep Elliott Bay cleaner by treating stormwater and wastewater during wet weather. It removes solids and disinfects the polluted water to protect water quality in the bay. If EWWTS was not in operation, these pollutants would enter Elliott Bay in what is called a Combined Sewer Overflow or CSO. There are many CSO outfall locations throughout Seattle. Now, new rules from the Washington State Department of Ecology require upgrades at the station. These changes will help the station meet updated water quality standards and continue to protect Elliott Bay from pollution in the future. This is a major investment to ensure King County continues to protect public health and the environment for years to come.
In partnership with King County Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD), 4Culture is seeking one artist or artist-led team to create a site-specific artwork for the east glass façade adjacent to the Elliott West Wet Weather Treatment Station (EWWTS) interior stairwell and upper facing north glass window. Artwork will inspire and engage the broader community by reflecting on the site and its relationship to:
- Elliott Bay and the project theme identified as “Water’s Edge”: This is inspired by the shore where EWWTS is located and how it has changed dramatically over the last 130 years. It has gone from a dynamic and natural shoreline to one fully manipulated by human design and industry.
- the Interbay and Lower Queen Anne neighborhoods and the larger community
- the surrounding landscape and its connection to Elliott Bay and the Puget Sound
- collaborative conversations with artist Laura Haddad given her existing history with Undercurrents, an existing artwork at the Denny Way/Lake Union CSO
- and consideration of Laura Haddad’s design for the perforated metal panels on the west façade of EWWTS. There will be some overlap in both artists’ design timelines.
The selected artist or artist-led team will develop original artwork that responds to the architectural character of building, the surrounding environment, and EWWTS’s important role in supporting essential public infrastructure. The artwork will be highly visible to the community on the east side of EWWTS and transit along Elliott Ave West. The artwork should be thoughtfully integrated with the site.
The selected artist or artist-led team will work closely with 4Culture, Wastewater Treatment, the project consultant, and Laura Haddad of artist team Haddad/Drugan to collaborate on the artwork and its integration into the architecture of the new EWWTS upgrade.
Project Location
King County Wastewater Treatment Division will be making improvements to the Elliott West Wet Weather Treatment Station located along Elliott Ave West adjacent to the Interbay neighborhood. The BNSF railroad sits to the southwest of the facility, as well as the Elliott Bay waterfront. Myrtle Edwards Park, Centennial Park, and Elliott Bay Park are connected by the Elliott Bay Trail and current Elliott Bay Connections project, all in close proximity to the EWWTS site.
Background
4Culture + King County Wastewater Treatment Division (KC WTD)
4Culture is King County’s cultural services agency. Through five integrated program areas—Public Art, Heritage, Arts, Historic Preservation, and Science + Technology—4Culture supports cultural vitality and the assets that make communities vibrant, distinctive, and authentic. Public Art 4Culture ensures that artists’ work and ideas are present in the built environment by commissioning art for shared public spaces, stewarding the King County Public Art Collection.
4Culture and King County Wastewater Treatment Division have a long-standing partnership in public art. For many years, 4Culture commissioned temporary and permanent artworks for natural areas, pump stations, wastewater treatment and wet weather treatment and storage facilities. These projects speak to the mission of King County Wastewater Treatment to highlight the beauty of water—and drawing attention to the impact humans have on the water cycle. Since 2015, this work has evolved with the development of the CSO Art Plan by Sans façon, that considers long and short term CSO projects that eventually become Wet Weather Storage or Stations. All projects done in collaboration with 4Culture and King County Wastewater Treatment consider art as a tool for sharing information about the work of Wastewater, their commitment to environmental stewardship and protection of water quality in our region.
Artist team Haddad/Drugan previously collaborated with WTD on an artwork titled Undercurrents. The project was created in two phases, 13 years apart. Initially they designed a plaza in Elliott Bay Park to mark the location where the outfall pipes discharged stormwater into Elliott Bay. The plaza is oriented around a stainless-steel swale that carries rainwater to the bay. Wave-activated sound pipes are built into the riprap. The swale itself is etched with text that illustrates the poetry of the filtration process that occurs in the underground pipes and via the natural springs that once flowed out of nearby Queen Anne hill. The project was inspired by the workings of King County’s Denny Way/Lake Union CSO, located in Myrtle Edwards Park. The Denny Way/Lake Union CSO is connected through underground pipes to the current EWWTS facility and will remain connected to the upgraded EWWTS once construction is complete.
Haddad/Drugan also inspired the metal railing treatment at the existing EWWTS facility that will be adjacent to the new EWWTS. For continuity, Haddad/Drugan will be working with the design team to impact the perforated metal screens located on the new EWWTS façade. The artist or artist-led team selected for the glass opportunity will have a chance to talk with Laura Haddad and see this design during the design phase of the art glass.
What are combined systems and Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO)?
Much of Seattle was built using a combined sewer system. A combined system uses the same set of pipes to carry both sewage and stormwater. In the neighborhoods around EWWTS, this combination goes to the West Point Treatment Plant in Magnolia to be treated.
During heavy rain, pipes fill with stormwater that runs off roofs, driveways, and streets. When the system is overwhelmed, it is designed to overflow into waterways. This prevents sewer backups into homes and businesses. These overflows are called combined sewer overflows, or CSOs. EWWTS helps reduce untreated overflows into Elliott Bay by treating stormwater and wastewater during heavy rain.
Why is Elliott Wet Weather Treatment Station (EWWTS) being upgraded now?
This project will bring EWWTS into compliance with updated, stricter regulations. EWWTS has not always achieved full compliance under West Point Treatment Plant’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. This permit allows West Point and its facilities to release wastewater into bodies of water and contains requirements that ensure that operations maintain water quality standards.
As KC WTD makes upgrades to EWWTS to meet these updated regulations, they are reflecting on what they have learned over the last 20 years. This includes correcting flaws in the original design and learning from operator experiences. KC WTD is also making updates to include industry-leading technologies. Furthermore, KC is performing climate change modeling to assess how this new facility can solve two things: adapt to the way climate change will alter Puget Sound’s environment and use renewable and clean power. Project benefits include:
- Better water quality in Elliott Bay
- Full compliance of EWWTS with West Point Treatment Plant’s NPDES Permit
- Reduced untreated CSO discharges
What are EWWTS project sustainability goals?
Envision is a sustainability rating system developed by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI). It assesses infrastructure projects across five categories:
- Quality of Life
- Leadership
- Resource Allocation
- Natural World
- Climate and Resilience
Projects are rated from Verified to Platinum, with Platinum being the highest level of achievement in sustainable and resilient infrastructure.
The EWWTS project is actively pursuing Envision Platinum certification, demonstrating King County’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure. Key sustainability and resilience strategies include (but are not limited to):
- Climate adaptation and risk reduction integrated into design and operations
- Energy-efficient systems and potential use of renewable energy sources
- Water quality protection through advanced treatment technologies
- Community and interested party engagement to ensure equitable outcomes
- Habitat preservation and restoration to support local ecosystems
- Lifecycle cost analysis and materials reuse to minimize environmental impact
Protecting water quality in Elliott Bay
The Elliott West Wet Weather Treatment Station (EWWTS) is being upgraded to meet updated National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit requirements from the Washington State Department of Ecology. This permit helps make sure that water discharged from the EWWTS during heavy rain events meet federal and state water quality standards.
Upgrading wastewater treatment for compliance and environmental protection
To meet the updated permit requirements, the project will install a new screening system, a high-rate clarification system for solids removal, and UV disinfection. These additions will catch debris, remove solids, and kill harmful bacteria in the water. If these changes are not made, WTD would be at risk of not complying with its permit, which may lead to fines and untreated water entering Elliott Bay during heavy rain events. This could harm public health and marine life, pollute the water, and affect nearby parks.
Adapting the station for future weather challenges
We are designing the expanded station to handle weather changes brought on by a shifting climate, especially during severe storms. New pumps will reliably move water into the treatment facility. We have set aside additional onsite space for more treatment equipment in case incoming flows continue to increase. By planning ahead, we will make it easier to add advanced treatment equipment if needed, ensuring the station remains resilient and adapts to future changes in our community and environment.
This upgrade will help protect water quality, keep our communities safe, and take care of the environment for future generations.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Elliott West Wet Weather Station Upgrade
King County Wastewater Treatment Division
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Timeline
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Timeline
Selection Timeline*
| Application Release | Tuesday, September 22, 2026 |
| Application Due Date | Thursday, October 22, 2026 4:00 PM (PDT) |
| Selection Panel Meetings | Week of November 16, 2026 |
| Finalist Orientation (One Hour)** | Friday November 20, 2026 |
| Finalist Interviews** | Week of December 7, 2026 |
| Notification of Results | Week of December 14, 2026 |
Project Timeline*
| Contract Issued | January 2027 |
| Design Development | January – May 2027 |
| PACC Design Review | May 20 or June 17, 2027 |
| Fabrication | 2028 – 2029 |
| Installation | 2029 – 2030 |
*Schedules are subject to change.
**Applicants are expected to be flexible on these dates to participate in a virtual orientation and interview if selected as a finalist.
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Are You Eligible?
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Are You Eligible?
This opportunity is open to individual artists or artist teams residing in the United States who have experience working in 2-dimensional glass and/or on façade projects of a similar scale.
One artist or artist team will be selected and awarded this commission; the artist or artist team will create a site-specific artwork for the east glass stairwell façade and upper facing north glass window of the upgraded Elliott West Wet Weather Treatment Station.
Individuals with potential conflicts of interest, including King County employees; 4Culture staff, Board, and Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) members; and their immediate family members or business partners, are not eligible to apply.
Selection Criteria
Finalists will be selected based on the following criteria:
- Artistic merit, as demonstrated through submitted examples of past work and application materials.
- Interest in working with the project partners that include 4Culture, Wastewater Treatment, the project consultant, and Laura Haddad to be in conversation and collaborate on the artwork and its integration into the architecture of the new Elliott West Wet Weather Treatment Station upgrade.
- Ability to consider the surrounding environment and the building’s relationship to Elliott Bay.
- Experience working in 2-dimensional glass and/or on façade projects of a similar scale and show at least one example of this in your work samples.
- Ability to work with the project team based on the existing project timeline.
- Willingness to work on the design while 4Culture manages the glass fabrication with a selected fabricator. The artist will be able to review glass samples in progress for review and approval with 4Culture and WTD.
Selection Process
A five-person panel—comprised of artists, arts professionals, community partners, project consultant, and King County Wastewater Treatment staff—will review all submitted application materials, identify finalists for interviews, and recommend one artist/team for the commission.
Finalists will be invited to a virtual orientation session where they will have the opportunity to learn more about the project and ask questions directly of King County Wastewater Treatment and 4Culture representatives prior to their interview.
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How to Apply
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How to Apply
Submission of an online application is required for this opportunity. Please contact us with any questions. We encourage you to begin your application early.
ACCOUNT SET-UP
4Culture’s application system will be used for this process. You may be required to create a new account. Once you submit your account request, a 4Culture staff member will manually activate it during office hours, Mondays –Fridays 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. You will receive a follow-up email within 2 business days with your username and a temporary password. We appreciate your patience and ask that you keep an eye out for this confirmation.
DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
Your applicant profile must be updated with current demographic information. This helps us understand how well we’re reaching all communities.
PROFILE
Artist’s contact information.
STATEMENT OF INTEREST
A written statement (500 words or less) explaining why you are interested in this opportunity and how you would approach this commission considering your past work. Consider the selection criteria as it relates to your experience and interests. Please do NOT submit a proposal as part of the application.
RÉSUMÉ
Some suggested items to include in your artist résumé include:
- Contact information – At the top of each page, include your name, address, phone number, email address and web URL.
- Team Applications – If you are part of a team, please list your contact information as well as information for the rest of the project team.
- Professional experience – Please list project related experience that is relevant to your art practice and applicable to this opportunity.
WORK SAMPLES
Submit 10 total samples of past work that best represent your body of work and qualifications for this opportunity. If applying as a team, the 10 work samples should be inclusive of all team members.
Work samples 1-8 should be digital images; work samples 9-10 may be digital images or videos with a cumulative run time of up to three minutes.
Each work sample requires a brief description (75 words or less) that includes, as applicable: project title, date, location, commissioning agency, budget, partners, photo credit, copyright owner, and a concise summary of the scope, intention, and outcome.
DIGITAL IMAGES
Upload JPG files only; 1920 pixels on the longest side (suggested), at least 72 dpi, and less than 2 MB in size. Composite images that combine multiple views, stages, or projects in one file are not accepted.
VIDEO (Optional for samples 9-10)
Submit up to 2 URLs of VIDEO samples that relate to the work exhibited in the digital images or your art practice (i.e., to show kinetic artwork, graduations of light, sound or media-based art, etc.). Video samples must be submitted via Vimeo or YouTube, with the specific URL (e.g., vimeo.com/2992575) noted on the Work Sample Upload page. All submissions must be publicly accessible (password protected files will not be accepted). Video files will be viewed for a cumulative total of 3 minutes and must be edited to conform to this time limitation or include start and stop times.
DUE DATE
Applications must be received no later than 4:00 P.M. PDT on Thursday, October 22, 2026. Please allow ample time to complete and upload your application; submissions will not be accepted after the deadline.
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Helping You Succeed
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Helping You Succeed
Virtual Info Session
We recorded a virtual info session. This video is a great resource to get your questions answered before applying! If you have any trouble accessing this video, please contact Fiona Dang at .
Contact Us
Please reach out to us with any questions.
Technical questions regarding the application:
Fiona Dang
Fiona.Dang@4Culture.org
206.848.0215
Questions regarding the art opportunity:
Kelly Pajek
Kelly.Pajek@4Culture.org
206.263.1606
Selina Hunstiger
Selina.Hunstiger@4Culture.org
206.263.2518
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