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.
Stage 1 Questions & Answers
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?
January 18, 2010 – 5:43 pm
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?
January 18, 2010 – 5:42 pm
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?
January 18, 2010 – 5:42 pm
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?
January 18, 2010 – 5:42 pm
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?
January 18, 2010 – 5:42 pm
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?
January 18, 2010 – 5:41 pm
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?
January 18, 2010 – 5:41 pm
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?
January 18, 2010 – 5:41 pm
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?
January 18, 2010 – 5:41 pm
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?
January 18, 2010 – 5:41 pm
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?
January 18, 2010 – 5:09 pm
A25: See Q/A #12.
Q24: I would like to know if the submittion is by internet only?
January 18, 2010 – 5:09 pm
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)?
January 18, 2010 – 5:08 pm
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?
January 18, 2010 – 5:08 pm
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.
January 18, 2010 – 5:08 pm
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?
January 18, 2010 – 5:08 pm
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?
January 18, 2010 – 5:08 pm
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?
January 18, 2010 – 5:07 pm
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?
January 18, 2010 – 5:07 pm
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?
January 18, 2010 – 5:07 pm
A16: Yes, a confirmation e-mail will be sent.
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?
January 18, 2010 – 5:06 pm
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.
Q12: Have a budget and funding sources been identified for the project?
January 18, 2010 – 5:05 pm
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?
January 18, 2010 – 5:04 pm
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?
December 22, 2009 – 11:50 am
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?
December 22, 2009 – 11:43 am
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?
December 22, 2009 – 11:42 am
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.
Q7: I need more information about the register fees if there and the prize of the competition.
December 22, 2009 – 11:11 am
A7: See Q/A1 and Q/A2.
Q6: I am currently out of the country. It is mentioned that there would be interviews and site visits as shown in the key dates. Should I be present on those events?
December 22, 2009 – 11:01 am
A6: The Lead Designer(s) and Project Manager are required to attend the Stage II interview per section 2.7 of the Competition Manual. The Lead Designer(s) and Project Manager are also required to attend the Stage III design concept presentations per section 3.8 of the Competition Manual. The Design Teams selected to participate in Stage II are required to send a representative to the Stage II Networking Session (refer to section 2.3 of the Competition Manual). Other meetings are voluntary.
Q5: Can someone who is not a designer or architect enter a general concept for a plan in the initial stages of the competition, and then perhaps this concept, if liked, could be assigned to or shared with a design team later?
December 22, 2009 – 11:00 am
A5: No. The initial stages are to select designers and firms to participate in the Competition. You may participate in the Networking Session or explore teaming opportunities on your own.
Q4: How might I link up with a designer for this competition?
December 22, 2009 – 11:00 am
A4: A networking session will be held in St. Louis in the beginning of Stage II for the short-listed design firms to meet and explore potential teaming opportunities with other individuals and firms. The Competition Manager cannot provide recommendations or assistance in teaming.
Q3: Is this competition group only or are individuals allowed to participate?
December 22, 2009 – 11:00 am
A3: The Lead Designer may be an individual; however, the Stage I Portfolio submittal must contain information for the Design Team, which (as stated on page 17 of the Competition Manual) shall be comprised of, as a minimum, representatives of architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, engineering, and an artist. Refer to section 1.4 of the Competition Manual for the Mandatory Requirements for Stage I Submittals.
Q2: Is there any compensation planned for the teams that work on the Phase III competition?
December 22, 2009 – 10:59 am
A2: The Teams that are invited to participate in Stage III of this competition will receive an honorarium of $100,000. There is no compensation for Stage I and Stage II participants. Refer to page 17 of the Competition Manual.
Q1: What is the registration cost?
December 21, 2009 – 12:58 pm
A1: There is no fee for registration.