Posted December 22, 200618 yr I received this email yesterday about an up coming Cleveland based design competition. This is exactly what our city needs to start an ongoing dialogue about what this city should become. It looks like this will be an annual event. Dear Friends & Colleagues, For the past nine months, Brad Fink and I have been meeting with local, civic-minded design and urban planning professionals, as well as government leaders and service providers in the Cleveland area to discuss the concept of initiating an annual Cleveland Design Competition. Each year the competition will focus on urban design and the built environment at an under-utilized or high-profile site within the city. Through these annual competitions, we hope to stimulate thoughtful design solutions to the challenges of urban decay, provide a forum for the expression of ideas in the local design community, and attract national attention and talent to Cleveland as it re-establishes itself as a leader in art, culture, and design. The focus for this years’ competition is a complex site adjacent to Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood at the Cuyahoga River’s edge – Irishtown Bend. We expect that this exciting design challenge, together with the presence of nationally and regionally recognized jurors, will draw significant participation and receive positive national attention to Cleveland’s unique urban challenges and design opportunities. The site is an approximately 15 acre parcel of land located on the Cuyahoga River; roughly bound by W.25th Street, the Detroit Superior Bridge, the Union Terminal Viaduct, and the Cuyahoga River. Much of the site's complex history and current site constraints will be defined in the Competition Brief that will be available on the competition website (www.clevelandcompetition.com) around mid-January. The website for the competition is up and has a teaser ad that shows the north end of the site at the Detroit-Superior Bridge. The competition is scheduled to launch mid-January 2007 with a submission deadline at the end of April. The competition is being administered by an Organizing Committee comprised of myself, Bradley Fink, Cleveland Public Art, and Kent State Universitys' Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative, with encouragement and support from the Cleveland chapter of the AIA. We have set up three levels of sponsorship for the competition; all of which result in varying levels of valuable marketing acknowledgement for the sponsors and their firms. The established levels were set up to give potential sponsors a framework from which to decide how involved they want to be. We are currently approaching local architecture firms for sponsorships, and have begun the process to apply for grants for next years competition. While we have not yet approached any other kinds of businesses for sponsorship involvement, we certainly would not be against it. If you know anyone that you think might be interested in participating in the sponsorship program for this year, please have them contact me at [email protected]. We are currently talking to candidates for a four-member jury that will consist of two nationally recognized jurors, one regional, and one local. Prize levels for the winning submissions are defined in the Competition Brief that will become available in January. We have also been meeting with the organizations that own the land the site sits on, and they are very interested in being a part of the competition process. While the competition is an Ideas competition, and no real project is promised/offered for winning submissions, there has been public discussion of what to do with some of the land located on a portion of the competition site. We will be sending out teaser ads via email over the next month. Please feel free to forward this email to anyone you think may be interested in participating in this competition, and urge them to email us at [email protected] with their email address so that we can add them to our distribution list for the competition. Also keep an eye the web site (www.clevelandcompetition.com) over the course of the next month for updates and the official launch of the competition. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to email us, and we will answer them as soon as possible. Thank you for your interest in participating, we are looking forward to a great inaugural year. Best regards, Michael Christoff Bradley Fink
December 22, 200618 yr Wow, very cool. I hope they raise the cash they need. This site includes the "unstable hillside" of Hope VI infamy, no? I wonder if Goody Clancy will re-submit their old award-winning scheme. Thinking about making a submission w28th?
December 23, 200618 yr Hotel bruce did something awhile back. They came up with some buildings on it, where the old hovels used to be. Terraced gardens along the hillside. I cant remember exactly how it looked, but I remember thinking it was a good idea. http://www.hotelbruce.com/01_03/featurewell_w_village.php
December 24, 200618 yr Yeah, I've assembled a team of former Kent Staters, and can't wait to get going on this. It's going to be interesting to see what other teams come up with as well. I really think this is a big step forward in terms of making this city more design consious one. I especially like the line on the flier for the competition: CLEVELAND, DESIGN CITY A little play off the old postcards that used to say CLEVELAND, FIFTH CITY. Very cool.
December 25, 200618 yr Speaking of Hotel Bruce, why hasn't anything been done on the site for more than a year?
December 25, 200618 yr From what I gather, Marc Lefkowitz, who ran Hotel Bruce has chosen to devote his efforts to GreenCityBlueLake. clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
January 19, 200718 yr Its ironic that this design competition comes up now as I have just finished a proposal for that site for the Evolo 07 Skyscraper Competition and the 2007 Next Generation Design Competition. It looks like I will be submitting my design for a third competition now.
January 19, 200718 yr Speaking of Hotel Bruce, why hasn't anything been done on the site for more than a year? I believe that Marc said goodbye in the last Hotel Bruce. He works for EcoCity Cleveland and GCBL is his job.
January 19, 200718 yr Its ironic that this design competition comes up now as I have just finished a proposal for that site for the Evolo 07 Skyscraper Competition and the 2007 Next Generation Design Competition. It looks like I will be submitting my design for a third competition now. The competition is site-specific.
January 21, 200718 yr I know the competition is site specific. The design that I submitted for both competitions was for the Irish Bend site, thats why I am going to use it for this competition. It is allready for that site in the first place. Sorry of i did not explian myself clearly the first time. I will be using my design for this competition.
February 11, 200718 yr from the Cleveland AIA announcement - 1/26/07: Cleveland Design Competition - Project 2007 Call for Entries The Greater Cleveland design community is proud to announce the 1st annual Cleveland Design Competition. Each year, the design competition will focus on under-utilized or high-profile Cleveland sites with solutions in architecture, urban design, and landscape architecture. These competitions will solicit thoughtful design solutions to the challenges of urban decay, provide a nationally-recognized forum for contemporary design expression, and direct the attention of the local and national design community to Cleveland's unique urban challenges and design opportunities as it re-establishes itself as a leader in art, culture, and design. Project 2007 is an open, single-stage ideas competition focusing on Irishtown Bend, a storied hillside along the Cuyahoga River's west bank in Cleveland's Industrial Valley. Despite the site's location between Cleveland's restored historic neighborhoods, the hillside and riverbank remain largely inaccessible and mostly forgotten under a blanket of riparian vegetation and unstable soils. The 2007 Cleveland Design Competition is a result of the efforts and generous support from local professionals and community groups who share a vision in which design can influence positive change in Cleveland. We are pleased to announce the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy as this years' Cleveland Design Competition Awards Sponsor. Please support the continually growing list of competition sponsors & partners by visiting the Cleveland Design Competition webpage. For more information about participating in the competition or learning about sponsorship opportunities, please visit the website at The 2007 Cleveland Design Competition or email Michael Christoff & Bradley Fink @ [email protected]. Call for Entries: January 26th Registration Deadline: April 16th Submission Deadline: May 1st Entry Fee: $30/single, $30/team, $200/studio (up to 15 student submissions) Awards: 1st/$2,000, 2nd/$1,000, 3rd /$500
February 12, 200718 yr I'm glad this competition has been started. It would be even better if, in future years, it is linked to a proposed development project so that entrants felt as if their ideas might actually happen. (e.g. Flats East Bank, Stark-Warehouse District etc.)
February 12, 200718 yr ^or at least we could put more pressure on a developer to create a better product.
February 12, 200718 yr It would be great to get the winning entry built, but the fact that this competition is totally theoretical allows those involved to develop concepts that may typically not be discovered in a brick and mortar realm. Being theoretical levels the playing field between young, up and coming designers (who may have the best ideas, but not the experience to neccessarily get it built) and established architecture firms (who may win simply because they can execute it). The ideas produced in these competitions over the years will start to push the envelope on what this city thinks it can become, and give it an international presence (there is an international sponsor from what I heard) in the scope of architecture and design. So I guess this then connects with what former Wimwar is saying with local developers paying attention to the ideas created from this and take advantage of the research. Totally agree, but let's get the ideas out on the fringes of reality, then hone them into a developable project. Doing it the opposite way is often problematic.
February 12, 200718 yr So I guess this then connects with what former Wimwar is saying with local developers paying attention to the ideas created from this and take advantage of the research. Who is Wimwar? :)
February 14, 200718 yr Think anyone would notice if I submitted this entry?: http://www.goodyclancy.com/html/proj_descr.asp?pageid=1196
February 14, 200718 yr From rumors I've heard, the entries can't be represented by a professional firm. Individuals, teams, and students only. I think it's a great idea to again, level the playing field between established firms and up and coming designers.
February 14, 200718 yr I hear ya- I was just kidding. I am still sad that goody clancy's award winning plan won't be built on this site. I will be very curious to see how contest entries deal with the whole unstable hillside issue. This is definitely one of the coolest sites (the coolest?) in Cleveland and I hope something good ends up there some day.
February 14, 200718 yr I am no architect, but you would think that they could build something INTO the hillside...not just at the top. Sort of like a San Fransisco type thing.....
February 14, 200718 yr I am glad that professionals can not compete in this competition. Its not that I don’t want to exclude some great ideas from this competition, but as a student I don’t have ht e financial resources and years of experience to compete with them. I do on the other hand have a great idea that I am I going to submit for this site. I think it’s a good idea to let the up and coming artist get there chance to shine. I have tried to compete in the past with the best and although my idea was good my presentation was no where on par with what was put together by some of the bigger companies.
February 15, 200718 yr I would have liked to see some millionaire rowhouses cut into the bottom of the hill along carter road. Something like the really nice millionaire rowhouses in chicago. Or something very very simple and doable, like make a staircase starting at franklin before it curves around, down to carter road.
February 15, 200718 yr Simple and do able is nice but I have some thing grand planned for that site, a global lanmark. Its just an idea, but its what I am going to propose for the site.
February 16, 200718 yr Simple and do able is nice but I have some thing grand planned for that site, a global lanmark. Its just an idea, but its what I am going to propose for the site. That's a bold statement. We'll see if you can back it up.
February 16, 200718 yr It's on! UrbanOhio style! How many members are submitting to this competition, by the way?
February 18, 200718 yr I am going to submit my Plan for this site. Dont get me wrong, all the idea that we can get for this site will be goodsmall in scale or large. I only want to say that I want to do a large scale project. Smaller plans dont mean that they are not large in vision. I just like tall buildings, I have since I was a child and what I want to bring to this site is a large Scale stucture. I know by saying that is would be a global landmark that I am making a statement, but What I have put together may be something special in my mind but not others. but I am up to a challenge so hopefully when it comes to presenting this project others feel the same way I do.
February 22, 200718 yr I'm part of a group of 3 that has started working out the basic concepts and development scenarios.
March 2, 200718 yr Latest info: Upcoming Deadlines Questions Deadline: March 12, 2007 Registration Deadline: April 16, 2007 Submission Deadline: May 1, 2007 2007 Competition Jury Michel Langevin, NIP Paysage Zoë Ryan, Chicago Institute of Art Ken Greenberg, Greenberg Consultants Don Harvey, Cleveland artist Mark Robbins, Dean, School of Architecture Syracuse University Register Today Registration can be completed in one of two ways: 1. Submit Online Registration and Fee Payment. Click here to go to the Online Registration page. 2. Download Registration Form and Send by Post Mail. Click here to go to the Downloads page. Competition Downloads Several site panoramas have been added to the downloads page. Project 2007 Architects, landscape architects, engineers, urban planners, artists, students and others are invited to present design ideas for an under-utilized riverbed hillside and bluff along the western edge of Cleveland's Industrial Flats historically known as "Irishtown Bend". Entrants are encouraged to address important practical issues such as pedestrian and vehicular access, soils stabilization, view corridors, and programming while exploring the site's importance within the Cuyahoga River Valley and for surrounding neighborhoods and as a national example of the natural cycle of the regeneration of abandoned urban landscapes. Project 2007 is an international, open, anonymous, single-stage ideas competition. To participate in Cleveland Design Competition: Project 2007 , register online through the competition website or download the registration form and send it to the address below. Entry fee for individuals or teams is $30. For information about the design competition or registering visit www.clevelandcompetition.com. Contact the Cleveland Design Competition at [email protected] if you have any questions. Cleveland Design Competition c/o CUDC 820 Prospect Avenue, 2nd Floor Cleveland, Ohio 44115
May 19, 200718 yr Save the Date! Exhibition 2007 2007 Cleveland Design Competition Awards Reception and Exhibition Who: Hosted by the Cleveland Design Competition and Cleveland Idea Box What: Awards Reception and Exhibition of Designs for Irishtown Bend in Cleveland, Ohio Where: SPACES Gallery When: Thursday, June 7th Join us in recognizing the 2007 Cleveland Design Competition award-winning entries presented by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy on Thursday, June 7th at SPACES Gallery in Cleveland, Ohio. Solutions for the Irishtown Bend competition site submitted by designers in Cleveland and around the world will be exhibited at SPACES the evening of the Awards Reception and Exhibition. In conjunction with the event, the documentary "Cleveland: Confronting Decline in an American City" will be presented by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (for more information, visit www.makingsenseofplace.org ). The ongoing Shrinking Cities exhibition in the first floor gallery will also be open for viewing the evening of the event (www.spacesgallery.org). The reception and exhibition is hosted by the Advisors to the 2007 Cleveland Design Competition in conjunction with Cleveland Idea Box (www.ideaboxcleveland.com). We would like to thank the many competition partners and sponsors; without their continued support this year's competition would not have been a success: The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, AIA Cleveland, Kent State University's Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative, Cleveland Public Art, the Ohio Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, FORUM Architects, Ohio City Near West Development Corporation, PROCESS Creative Studios, and the Flats Oxbow Association. To view the most current list of competition sponsors, visit the sponsors page of the competition website. For more information about the 2007 Cleveland Design Competition or to join the competition mailing list, visit www.clevelandcompetition.com. Contact the Cleveland Design Competition at [email protected] if you have any questions. Cleveland Design Competition c/o CUDC 820 Prospect Avenue, 2nd Floor Cleveland, Ohio 44115 More details on the opening reception and exhibition will soon follow.
June 4, 200718 yr 2007 Cleveland Design Competition Awards Reception and Exhibition Join us for an exciting evening at SPACES Gallery to view ideas submitted by local, national, and international design teams for an area of Ohio City/The Flats known as Irishtown Bend. These solutions in Architecture, Urban Design, Art, and Landscape Architecture will be on display at SPACES Gallery the evening of June 7th. At 7:30PM, Kathryn J. Lincoln, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, will be announcing the winning submissions of the 2007 Cleveland Design Competition as selected by an internationally distinguished panel of jurors. This event is free and open to the public. Drinks and hors d'oeuvres will be served. The reception is hosted by the advisors to the 2007 Cleveland Design Competition in conjunction with Idea Box Cleveland (www.ideaboxcleveland.com). www.clevelandcompetition.com
June 8, 200718 yr A team from Vancouver won top prize. Second place was from Austin, TX, and third was from Oakland. Eastern Standard Time did not represent.
June 9, 200718 yr From the Plain Dealer: Interns start design contest to spark ideas Friday, June 08, 2007 Steven Litt Plain Dealer Architecture Critic Irishtown Bend, once a teeming community of 19th-century Irish immigrant laborers, is now a sodden mass of brush and buried architectural ruins sliding downhill toward the Cuyahoga River opposite downtown Cleveland.
January 14, 200817 yr any word on an '08 competition? The website does not mention anything regarding the 2nd annual contest.
January 14, 200817 yr ^That's the plan. Info came out last year at the end of January so we'll see what happens in a couple weeks for this year.
February 18, 200817 yr Checked website today and it's been updated to say that the 2008 competition is "coming soon" :clap:
July 21, 200816 yr better late than never right? the website has some inactive links which hopefully is a sign of updating the info for this year's competition! :clap: Actually great timing as this would make a great studio project for the architecture programs at the region's universities! Not just in Ohio but Carnegie Mellon, Michigan, Detroit Mercy, UIC, IIT, UIUC-just to name a few! Alumns/students, do your part and advertise this to your respective schools! I will!
August 11, 200816 yr Finally posted some info for the 2008 competition! www.clevelandcompetition.com WELCOME to the second annual Cleveland Design Competition! On Friday, August 22nd, 2008, the second annual Cleveland Design Competition will open for registration as we launch Project 2008: interPLAY. Maintaining a focus on under-utilized sites, the competition will solicit thoughtful design solutions to Cleveland's unique urban challenges and inherent design opportunities. This year's competition is set within the condition of population migration back into urban neighborhoods and the need to develop effective social infrastructure to sustain existing populations and attract new residents. As urban cores and inner ring suburbs become more economically and generationally diverse, it is becoming increasingly important to provide viable, active environments capable of fostering interaction despite cultural differences. For years, play spaces and public recreation facilities have devolved to a great extent into intellectually limiting environments that prescribe specific activities and stint spontaneous interaction. False presumptions of appropriate activities or underprogrammed spaces has left many public parks and plazas underutilized - whether occupied for limited times of day (or seasons of the year), used by a single age group, or serving singular skills and interests. For Project 2008: interPLAY, it will be critical for entrants to rethink social/recreation programming and consider the types of interactions and emotions that a well designed intergenerational public space can elicit. The 2008 Cleveland Design Competition site, located a few miles west of downtown Cleveland in the Detroit Shoreway Neighborhood, is situated at the northern terminus of West 65th Street at the intersection of West 65th and Father Caruso Drive. The site's predominant use is as a multi-purpose pedestrian passageway between the Detroit Shoreway Neighborhood and Edgewater Park along Lake Erie. The Detroit Shoreway Neighborhood is a dramatically changing Cleveland community seeing significant investments in arts and culture, new dining and shopping destinations, renovations of aging housing, and the replacement of lakefront industrial areas with housing and public spaces. Projects transforming and redefining the community range from an eco-village, to the development of a $100 million housing neighborhood on 13-acres overlooking Lake Erie, and the multi-million dollar decommissioning of the West Shoreway from a high speed roadway to a pedestrian scaled, tree line boulevard. More information on the neighborhood's history and its current condition, the site's geographic constraints, and the competition's objectives will be available in the Competition Brief on the competition website (http://www.clevelandcompetition.com/) beginning August 22nd, 2008. The 2008 competition is administered by Cleveland architecture professionals Michael Christoff and Bradley Fink, Greg Peckham - Cleveland Public Art, and Steve Rugare - Kent State University's Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative. Competition partners for Project 2008 - interPLAY include the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, The Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization, Cleveland Public Art, ParkWorks, and Kent State University's Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative. Email [email protected] to be added to the distribution list for upcoming competition updates. If you know any organizations that may be interested in participating in the sponsorship program for this year, please contact the Cleveland Design Competition at [email protected].
December 24, 200816 yr Photo gallery posted of this year's competition winners: http://www.clevelandcompetition.com/gallery-08.html Does anyone know what happens to these ideas? Are any of them seriously being considered in terms of actually implementing them?
September 22, 200915 yr Well here it is... The first architecture-specific Cleveland Design Competition! Check it out! www.clevelandcompetition.com
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