Solid Waste Management Facility
Summary
The Solid Waste Management Facility in Phoenix, Arizona is a national model for involving artists in the design of city infrastructure. The project resulted from the City’s Percent for Art Ordinance and was managed by Phoenix Public Works Department.
Phoenix Arts Commission has an established policy for placing artists in infrastructure projects. Artists Linnea Glatt and Michael Singer were engaged by the Commission to develop the conceptual design for the Facility and to collaborate with engineers Black and Veatch on detailed design and construction. They addressed a series of concept questions intended to challenge ideas about waste, and came up with a conceptual design which integrated practical functions of waste management and recycling with an education resource and a demonstration of recycling in action. Despite the huge challenges of the project, all of those involved agree that the final outcome has ensured it was a positive experience. Nonetheless their evaluative comments and interviews recorded by the Institute of Civil Infrastructure Systems (ICIS) provide useful guidance. The project received extensive and understanding press coverage in North America.
