[Lapg] Thom Mayne, Brad Pitt, Others to jury Sustainable Design Competition for New Orleans - Call for Entries

[Monica Gilchrist]

Global Green USA is inviting talented architects, urban planners, designers,
ecologists and students to put forward a creative yet practical vision of
sustainable design for New Orleans. Designs will combine multiple goals of
reduced energy use, healthier indoor air quality, and affordability while
serving as a catalyst for the green rebuilding of New Orleans.

The jury is anchored by leaders in the design and planning community (e.g.,
Thom Mayne, William Morrish, Walter Hood), New Orleans community leaders,
and others who are passionate about green building and intelligent
architecture (i.e., Brad Pitt, David Orr). Other jury members will be
announced soon. The technical jury will include experts from the US Green
Building Council, AIA, and Global Green USA.

Competitors are also challenged to draw from the rich design heritage of New
Orleans. We anticipate extensive media coverage and interest in the design
competition, the finalist and featured designs, and the focus on green
re-building.  
 
More information is listed below, but interested parties can learn more and
register now for the competition at:
www.globalgreen.org/competition

1. Deadlines and Submission Requirements
The registration deadline is June 9, 2006.  All submissions - comprising 2
30" by 40" boards (also on compact disc) and a separate short narrative -
must be received by the competition sponsor in New Orleans no later than
5:00 pm (Central Time) on July 6, 2006. The timeline allows for finalist
presentations to be made to the community and the public by the 1 year
anniversary of the landfall of Hurricane Katrina on August 29.
 
2. Finalist Selection and Prizes
Three to six finalists will be selected to participate in Stage II and be
awarded $25,000 to offset the cost to develop their proposals and partake in
the community Charrette and design process.  At the end of Stage II, cash
prizes totaling $25,000 will be distributed.

3. Exhibition
A large selection of the competition entries, including all of the
finalists, will be exhibited in New Orleans in August 2006 and at the
National Building Museum in Spring 2007 - finalist designs and selected
others will also be reproduced in an accompanying publication and on-line.
 
4. Competition Program Overview
In Stage 1, participants are asked to provide:
* a design on one board for a 'green' 12-unit multi- family housing building
that incorporates a day care center and meeting room; and

* On a 2nd board, sustainable urban site plan of a 1.25 acre site that
highlights the environmental features and goals (e.g., reducing energy,
water, greenhouse gas emissions, and other environmental impacts), while
placing single family homes and other necessary features on the site.

5. Finalist Round
In Stage II, 3 to 6 finalists  -- identified from the first round and
announced on July 15 -- will be paired with pre-selected neighborhood groups
and specific sites. Finalists will be allowed to draw upon their
multi-family design from Stage I, while addressing the overall design
program and needs outlined for the site in Stage II. While there is no
guarantee, our goal is to see the finalist designs constructed with the
neighborhood groups.

We look forward to your submissions, and your help demonstrating the
potential for New Orleans to become a green city.

Sincerely,

Matt Petersen
President and CEO
Global Green USA