Competition Brief

BLT Architects (BLTa) is pleased to invite students from the mid-Atlantic region (i.e. Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Washington D.C, West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland) to take part in the 2011 Student Design Sketch Competition.

Description

The objective is to provide maximum freedom to the participants in proposing imaginative design ideas for a site that has potentially the best of both worlds.  It is an urban infill site on a bucolic riverfront location.

The goal of this competition is to create a mixed use development on a key underutilized river front site in the business district of one of Philadelphia’s many famous neighborhoods.  Truly a “gateway site” between Center City Philadelphia and the neighborhoods and suburbs that lie to the northwest along the Schuylkill River, the site also lies at the foot of a unique historic bridge which is the connection point across the river for joggers and bikers on the trails on both sides of the river leading out from Center City.

The program is to develop a mixed use facility of retail, apartments and parking. Retail should be located on the Ridge Avenue and Calumet Street sides of the property. Since the site has convenient access to public transit, parking should be provided for the housing at a ratio of one space per 2 units.  Parking should be provided for the retail at a ratio of 3 spaces per 1000 gross square feet.  A 25 foot planted buffer is required along Kelly Drive. No curb cuts are allowed along Kelly Drive. To reinforce the urban nature of the local shopping district, no setback is allowed along those streets. Store fronts must meet the sidewalk.  All existing building on site can be demolished.

The site is fairly level, though the west corner (see the floodplain diagram) is down about 9’ from the other three corners of the site. Download the 2011 Competition Brief.

Regulations

• The competition is open to all students who are registered at Universities in the mid-Atlantic region.
• The official language of the competition is English.
• This is an anonymous competition.
• Contacting the Jury is prohibited.
• Entrants will be disqualified if any of the competition rules are not considered.
• Participation assumes acceptance of the regulations.

Key Dates for the Competition

• Thursday, October 6, 2011 - Competition opens.
• Saturday, October 15, 2011, 12 midnight EST– Registration deadline. EXTENDED TO THURSDAY, 10/20.
• Monday, October 24, 2011, 12 noon EST – Project submission deadline.
• Thursday, October 27, 2011 – Winners will be announced at the BLTa Anniversary Celebration.

Awards

• First Prize: One paid internship will be awarded at BLT Architects for the summer of 2012.
• Second Prize: $500 cash award.
• Third Prize: $250 cash award.
• Selected entries will be posted on the BLTa website for 180 days.

Registration

• All currently enrolled university students are invited to participate in the design competition.
• Participants must register FREE online as a member of the aReturnOnDesign community member.
• All participants must submit proof of active student status. A scanned copy of your student ID or other verification must be uploaded to your Member Page on this website.
• Each individual must be registered. Only individual entries will be accepted.

Submission Requirements

• This is a sketch competition. Entrants must submit their proposal via the aReturnOnDesign.com community no later Monday, October 24, 2011 at 12:00 noon EST. The project submission must be composed as 1 board, presented in 40” x 40” format as a JPEG (maximum size of 10 MB).

Submission Directions

Registration

• Join this community (Saturday, October 15, 2011, 12 midnight EST).
• Click My Member Page (upper right corner).
• Click Change Your Profile Image (upper left corner).
• Upload a scanned copy of your student ID or other identification.
• Within 48 hours, you will receive a message about a Connection Request.
• Click Message Center (upper right corner).
• Click Connection Requests.
• Approve connection with design_competition@blta.com.
• When the connection has been accepted, you are registered.

Submission

• To submit your sketch, Log in.
• Click My Member Page (upper right corner).
• Click Member Pictures (left hand bar).
• Click Add New Image.
• Select Click here to create a new album.
• Album Title should be “2011 Design Competition.”
• Leave Description blank.
• Click Save and Upload JPEG.
• Enter “Name” in Title.
• Click Add File and select image from your computer.
• In box below, draft 200 – 500 word description of image.
• Click Publish and Close.
• Confirm that your image is uploaded correctly.
• Sign out.

Jury

The jury will be made up of the four BLTa Principals: Michel L. Prifti FAIA, Eric M. Rahe AIA  LEED AP, Michael  R. Ytterberg  PhD, AIA,  LEED  AP, Stanley Tang AIA and Principal Emeritus John Bower FAIA, University of Pennsylvania Professor Emeritus and University of Pennsylvania Design Review. More information can be found at www.BLTa.com.

To assist with the judging process, a series of judging criteria is defined in four categories as outlined below.

Creative Approach:

• The design response is innovative and inspirational.
• The design addresses critical urban issues.

Response to Site:

• The design responds to the physical aspects of site.
• The design responds to the urban context.

Sustainability:

• The design considers the building’s environmental impact and energy use.
• The design considers social sustainability, occupant lifestyle and well-being.

Functionality:

• Planning and building organization is clear and appropriate.
• There is a clear structural, technical and constructional rationale.

About BLT Architects

BLT Architects is an integrated architectural and interior design firm. Since its founding in 1961, BLTa has developed into a diverse and respected design firm with offices in Philadelphia and Atlantic City. We are honored and proud to have produced a diverse portfolio of hospitality, education, multi-family residential, mixed use and retail, parking and intermodal projects. The richness of our work encompasses the rational and the cutting edge.  It aspires to fulfill the core values of our mission.  Visit www.BLTa.com.  

Download the 2011 Competition Brief.

If you would like a copy of the CAD files, please email design_competition@BLTa.com no later than 10/15, and they will be emailed to you.