Frequently Asked Questions Questions & Answers

Q47: I may have missed it but there does not seem to be a Plan of the Arch grounds at a useful scale included in the Competition Manual. It may be buried in the Resources but I did not find it. Perhaps you intend to provide base material at Stage 2. Most designers would prefer to have site plan showing existing conditions at the very beginning of a project and especially for a major competition.

A47: Appropriate base materials will be given to the Stage III participants at the Stage III Briefing.

Q46: When/where will the pre-submittal attendance list be posted?

A46: See Q/A #43.

Q45: Can you please clarify this requirement for the Stage I portfolio? “Documentation of up to three projects within the past ten years by the disciplines represented in the Design Team (maximum of four pages per project, 15 projects total).” Is the maximum number of projects 3 or 15? If it’s 3 projects, are we allowed 12 or 15 pages total?

A45: The maximum number of project is three per discipline (architect, landscape architect, urban designer, engineer, and artist), which totals 15 projects. Each project may be no more than four pages. See also Q/A #17 and Q/A #26.

Q44: Is it possible to get list of those in attendance?

A44: See Q/A #43.

Q43: Will you be sharing the sign-in list [from the Pre-submittal Meeting] with attendees or on the website?

A43: Yes, it will be posted to the Competition website.

Q42: Is identifying one or more artists to be on our team required for meeting the criteria of Phase 1, or can we postpone this decision until Phase 2.

A42: The team must be composed as described in the Competition Manual. See also Q/A #18.

Q41: Is it necessary for all members of our team (lead design architect, landscape architect, urban designer, engineer and artist) to register for the competition, or does only one member need to register for the overall team?

A41: See Q/A #37.

Q40: I wanted to confirm with you regarding individuals wishing to join selected teams without a portfolio during the process. Again, is the best time to join one of the teams during the Networking Session of Stage II, and if so, whom should I contact as to the location and time.

A40: The location and time of the Networking Session will be posted to the Competition website once all that information is available.

Q39: In Phase l submission requirements under “Project Documentation” it is stated to include up to three 8 x 10 inch illustrations for each project. Can these 8 x 10 illustrations be replaced using 81/2 x 11 inch illustrations to allow for better integration into 81/2 x 11 inch bounded portfolio as requested?

A39: Yes.

Q38: Is there a published list of those who have expressed interest? We are a local, firm that would be interested in teaming.

A38: See Q/A #31.

Q37: Could you let me know, if each team company needs to register or just the lead-designer company?

A37: Only one designer/firm per team needs to register, preferably the Lead Designer(s). Indicate in your cover letter who registered for your team.

Q36: If the portfolio is oriented 8.5 x 11 vertical orientation, is there a preference for single sided pages or double sided pages (both regarding the projects and the CVs). In the 8 x 10 inch illustration (3 allowed per project), is it admissible to include 2 smaller images formated together not to exceed 8 x 10 inches? Also, if big horizontal images are reformatted to 8″ width, is it okay that the image will be shorter than 10″ (or should we re-orient the submittal as an 8.5 x 11 format document, HORIZONTAL orientation?

A36: You may format your portfolio vertically or horizontally. Double-sided printing is preferred to reduce the size of submittals. The page limitations are per printed page, so two double-side pieces of paper equal four pages. See also Q/A #19.

Q35: We understand the issues of urban design and landscape architecture in the pursuit of reconnecting the project site to its surroundings. Could you elaborate on the scopes of work as you imagine them regarding architectural and artistic scopes? Will there be guidelines pertaining to new buildings and permanent or temporary art installations or is this part of the competition? Ie: do the teams suggest appropriate architectural/artistic interventions?

A35: Yes, the teams are to suggest through their design concepts the appropriate interventions to address the Design Goals.

Q34: Should CVs for stage I be limited to the key team principals of each firm or should they also include each firm’s project team that would participate in stage II?

A34: They should be limited to Lead Designer(s). See also Q/A #28.

Q33: Is it advisable to show only built projects or can we also include projects under construction or in design? Will project status be weighted differently?

A33: You may show whatever projects you deem appropriate. Project status is not part of the evaluation criteria.

Q32: Will a list of all registrant be available after registration is closed?

A32: See Q/A #31.

Q31: Will the lead designer have to have their team of consultants selected for the Stage 1 Submittal? If so, how can a consultant find out what lead designers are registered in order to explore teaming opportunities?

A31: No, the focus of Stage I is on the Lead Designer(s) of the project and designer are not required to form complete teams until Stage II of the Competition. The registration list will be made available when registration closes.

Q30: The Stage 1 portfolio requirements state that the project documentation “is to include up to three 8 x 10 inch illustrations of each project and a one-page narrative description of each project.” 1) Can the ‘narrative description’ page contain any images/illustrations, or can it only contain text? 2) regarding the 3 pages with 8×10 illustrations, must the illustrations on this page be 8×10 – or can each page have multiple images?

A30: You may format your narrative as you see fit as long as it is not more than the one-page maximum. See also Q/A #19.

Q29: We are all Italians with Italian licenses according to the UE regulations. We do not have American partner, for the 1st stage and for this application. For us is not totally clear if we could apply or not to the 1st stage of the competition, in particular referring to this phrase: (…) “The Architects and Engineers of Record shall comply with the State of Missouri and State of Illinois licensing requirements.” (page 17 of the manual). Could you explain better if we can participate or not, please?

A29: Yes, you may participate. That phrase means that the architects and engineers that eventually win and are contracted to execute the project must comply with all pertinent regulations.

Q28: Do only the 5 Key members of the team need bio’s or does every relevant team member need a bio?

A28: Include bios for only the Lead Designer(s) for each discipline on the team.

Q27: It is stated that each project can show up to 3 (8×10) illustrations/photographs. Can these 3 (8×10) images be a collage of project images saved as one image to help explain the project or can it only simply be 1 image per page?

A27: See Q/A #19.

Q26: Pertaining to the competition rules we can show 3 projects (4 pages each) from each of the disciplines, totaling 60 pages of relevant project experience. Correct?

A26: Technically, yes, the requirements total 60 pages, but it should be composed of up to 3 projects per discipline.

Q25: Could you please tell me what the construction budget for this project would be?

A25: See Q/A #12.

Q24: I would like to know if the submittion is by internet only?

A24: Registration is to be completed on the Competition website, but the submittals must be sent to the physical Competition Address listed on page 22 of the Competition Manual.

Q23: Regarding Section 1.4.2 “Project Documentation”, can more than 3 images be used to describe each project, as long as we do not exceed the 4 pages per project (1 page narrative + 3 pages of images)?

A23: Yes, see Q/A #19.

Q22: On page 7 the Competition Manual speaks of assembling a team that can execute the project. In the document, you identify the following needs: Leadership in Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, and Architecture; The role of an artist; Program related to other disciplines, from transportation to economics. Can we assume that this execution of the project can be assumed to be long-term multi-faceted effort, with the competition leaders leading the charge? In other words: would there be follow-up work in each of the lead disciplines, and then contracts for work essential to the selected strategy?

A22: Yes, refer to section 4.4 on page 22 of the Competition Manual, which states, “the Selected Team will be invited to negotiate a contract…to provide professional services to implement a design…”

Q21: Since the project documentation is part of an 8 ½ x 11 document, might we have the freedom to submit our key images as part of a four page summary – utilizing images that best serve to cover the topics requested? Direct relevance to issues from urban fabric to sustainability to design excellence could then be illustrated and described together on each page.

A21: Submittals must conform to the requirements listed in the Competition Manual. Additional material will not be accepted.

Q20: How can I confirm that we are registered for the competition? Will we receive a registration number?

A20: No registration numbers are given. See also Q/A #16.

Q19: The competition manual states that the three portfolio projects can include up to three 8×10 “illustrations” of each project. Can each of these three illustrations be composed of multiple drawings/photographs/images/etc or are they supposed to be three single images?

A19: The intent is that the illustrations are full page images, but you may ‘design’ the pages as you see fit to best show your work as long as you adhere to the four-page maximum per project.

Q18: On page 17 of the competition manual, it states that The Design Team shall have at a minimum certain disciplines represented. One of these is an artist. Does this refer to an art programmer that would create a plan for art or an actual artist what would produce a specific work(s) of art?

A18: The role of the artist is to be defined by the Team. We envision that role to be one of collaborating on the design, to add another perspective to the development of the design concept and to identify ways public art can be incorporated into the concept.

Q17: Item 1.4.2 in the Competition Manual stipulates a need for “up to three projects… at a maximum of four pages per project). This would equal twelve pages. Then it states: “15 projects total”. Does this mean that we are allowed an additional three pages with 12 other projects, or the twelve pages plus cover letter plus two page narrative? Or something else?

A17: Project Documentation should include up to three projects per each of the five required disciplines (architect, landscape architect, urban designer, engineer, and artist), which totals 15 projects.

Q16: Do we receive a confirmation once we have registered?

A16: Yes, a confirmation e-mail will be sent.

Q15: Does the Lead Team/Designer need to be American?

A15: No.

Q14: For the submitting Design Team, in light of the recession, is it possible to show projects from previous firm’s as part of a new firm’s work?

A14: The focus of Stage I is on the Lead Designer(s) as opposed to design firms. The intent is for the project documentation to show projects by the Lead Designer with appropriate credit for the firm of record. Where the work was accomplished should be made clear in the narrative.

Q13: What is the projected budget for this project?

A13: See Q/A #12.

Q12: Have a budget and funding sources been identified for the project?

A12: The complexity of the project is such that the competition seeks design solutions based on goals rather than a pre-defined program and so it is not possible to determine a budget at this time. A large consideration for budget purposes should be the goal to complete the project by October 2015. Fundraising has already begun.

Q11: I would like to participate with pdf plates and presentations posted on you tube. Is it possible?

A11: No, submittals must conform to the requirements listed in the Competition Manual.

Q10: Would you please send me details regarding the time and location of the Stage I Pre-Submittal meeting?

A10: Per the Competition Manual, the meeting will be held in St. Louis on January 13, 2010. The meeting will be at the Gateway Arch from 9:15 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (lunch on your own). We are working to get the meeting agenda and details posted to the website in the next couple of days. Please check back.

Q9: Is the competition open to students who would like to pursue the challenge for purely academic purposes? If so, would it be possible to receive all necessary information to administer such an effort for a spring term (Jan 10-May 1) assignment?

A9:  Students may use the published competition materials for an academic exercise; however, the more detailed design program information that will be released to the Stage III participants will not be available for public dissemination until after the completion of the Competition Process in September.

Q8: Is the competition open to students?

A8: Per the Competition Manual, participation in the Competition is open to all. Please be aware, however, that this is not an open call for designs. The first stage is a qualifications based portfolio submission. Refer to section 1.4 of the Competition Regulations for submittal requirements.