Summary:
The Olympic Peninsula Visitors Bureau (OPVB) is conducting a search for an original, large-scale, interpretive public signage installation.
This project supports traffic improvement to the roadway intersection at the junctions of SR 104 from MP 13.61 to MP 13.89, Paradise
Bay/Shine Road intersection with the construction of a one-lane roundabout. The signage component will be a permanent installation in the roundabout center circle at the western terminus of the Hood Canal Bridge, Port Ludlow, Washington. This is the first roundabout in a series along SR104 and HWY101 planned across the Olympic Peninsula. This roundabout is a new transportation feature that will facilitate a combination of vehicle, freight, pedestrian, and bicycle traffic, and provide a visual gateway to the Olympic Peninsula and the surrounding area.
The Olympic Peninsula “Welcome” sign will include English and local Klallam coastal tribal translation of text “ʔənʔá č’ə́yəxw. In a later phase, the roundabout may also accommodate a featured interpretive artwork that expresses the theme of “Welcome” across the whole of the Olympic Peninsula.
The region and its partners recognize that artwork, well-integrated with the landscape architecture for the roundabout center island, will
provide a safer intersection with a visual focal point that results in lower traffic speeds in addition to an aesthetic enhancement for the
community.
The scope of this project will include signage design, fabrication, and delivery. This sign will greatly influence elements and design work that could carry forward to other future “welcome” signs developed across the Olympic Peninsula. To that end, the awarded design will be asked to provide font and relevant color details as reference material. Sign installation and future artwork considerations in the center circle are beyond the scope of this specific procurement opportunity. The design for this sign should be original, reflecting artistic excellence.
Olympic Peninsula, Washington:
“Perhaps no other region in the Northwest offers a history of such depth, nor a future ripe with so much potential.”
–Tim McNulty, author of “Salmon, Cedar, Rock, & Rain: Washington’s Olympic Peninsula”
There are many good reasons to visit and explore the Olympic Peninsula year-round. The chance to escape from a big city and breathe easier for a few days is not a summer-only thing. The challenge is that many people living off the peninsula are not aware of all those reasons. The sheer scope and size of the peninsula, let alone what to do and experience year-round – are as varied as the peninsula is immense – we hope this roundabout sign welcomes everyone to experience the magic of the Olympic Peninsula.
Application Requirements:
- Phase 1: Request for Qualifications (RFQ) – March 26 – May 1, 2025
- Phase 2: Request for Proposals (RFP) – Selected Finalists only, May 15 – August 1, 2025
