150611 2015 urbansos asg brief updated

8/20/2019 150611 2015 UrbanSOS ASG Brief Updated

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URBAN

http://www.aecom.com/urbansoshttp://www.100resilientcities.org/http://www.aecom.com/urbansoshttp://www.aecom.com/http://vanalen.org/


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CONTENT

/01/02/03/04/05

/06/07/08

OVERVIEWPROCESSEVALUATION CRITERIAENGAGEMENTELIGIBILITY

SCHEDULEABOUTCOMPETITION TERMS

Cover photo:

Food system alliance farm in San Francisco Bay Area

Photo: Greenbelt Alliance/CC by 2.0

https://www.flickr.com/photos/greenbeltalliance/9629898093/in/photolist-fFfnQh-fEXNCn-fEXNM6-fEXLSM-fEXNep-fEXLG2-fEXL3T-fFfkKQ-fEXM8x-fEXN7k-fEXLzZ-fEXNmT-fFfpMU-fFfpxL-fFfoub-fEXPfa-fEXJQB-fEXNYX-fEXQB4-fEXNRR-fEXQmR-fEXKcK-fFfjgY-fFfj3q-fFfkeJ-fFfjKs-fFfjoY-fFfjYG-9W8Pbt-9W8PFF-9W8MaK-9WbB23-9WbD2h-9W8MsF-9W8NxD-9W8MJa-9WbCpy-9WbDAy-9W8N1g-d7bUBqhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/https://www.flickr.com/photos/greenbeltalliance/9629898093/in/photolist-fFfnQh-fEXNCn-fEXNM6-fEXLSM-fEXNep-fEXLG2-fEXL3T-fFfkKQ-fEXM8x-fEXN7k-fEXLzZ-fEXNmT-fFfpMU-fFfpxL-fFfoub-fEXPfa-fEXJQB-fEXNYX-fEXQB4-fEXNRR-fEXQmR-fEXKcK-fFfjgY-fFfj3q-fFfkeJ-fFfjKs-fFfjoY-fFfjYG-9W8Pbt-9W8PFF-9W8MaK-9WbB23-9WbD2h-9W8MsF-9W8NxD-9W8MJa-9WbCpy-9WbDAy-9W8N1g-d7bUBq


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A global open ideas competition

co-hosted by AECOM, Van AlenInstitute, and 100 Resilient Cities

– Pioneered by the Rockefeller

Foundation

URBAN SOS:ALL SYSTEMS GO


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/01 OVERVIEW

Urban SOS: All Systems Go calls onmultidisciplinary teams of students toenvision more resilient food, water, andenergy systems for supplying cities andregions today and in the future.

Across the world, this criticalinfrastructure is increasingly at riskdue to extreme weather, the impactsof climate change, and social and

economic strife. In New York City, forexample, if storms or a labor disputewere to disable the food distributionhub at Hunts Point for any significantlength of time, 22 million peoplethroughout the region would be leftwith less than three days’ worth offood. Despite the importance andvulnerability of these systems, theyare rarely prioritized as part of a city’soverall resilience, in part because theyare largely invisible: Too often we don’tpay attention to our pipelines, power

grids, and food supply chains untilthey fail.

Urban SOS: All Systems Go challengesstudent teams to identify an urbanpopulation facing the possibility ofdisruption to its food, energy, or watersystems, and offer strategies thatstrengthen these systems’ ability towithstand future shocks or stresses,while also making them more efficient,equitable, and accessible to diversepopulations. Proposals must be locatedin one of 67 cities that currently make

up the 100 Resilient Cities network.(See www.100resilientcities.org/cities for a full list.)

Three short-listed teams will be invitedto present their proposals before aninterdisciplinary panel at the A+DMuseum in Los Angeles in October 2015.Urban SOS: All Systems Go jurors willaward US$15,000 in prizes, which maybe divided among one or more teams.In addition, AECOM will makeavailable up to US$25,000 of cashand in-kind staff time to support theimplementation of a prototype of thewinning team’s strategies.

http://www.100resilientcities.org/citieshttp://www.100resilientcities.org/http://www.100resilientcities.org/cities


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SYSTEMS AT RISK

If New York City’s food distribution hubis disabled, 22 million people throughout

the region will be left with less thanthree days’ worth of food.


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ACCRAGHANA

AMMANJORDAN

ARUSHATANZANIA

ASHKELONISRAEL

ATHENSGREECE

BANGALOREINDIA

BANGKOKTHAILAND

BARCELONASPAIN

BELGRADESERBIA

BERKELEYUNITED STATES

BOSTONUNITED STATES

BOULDERUNITED STATES

BRISTOLUNITED KINGDOM

BYBLOSLEBANON

CALICOLOMBIA

CHENNAIINDIA

CHICAGOUNITED STATES

CHRISTCHURCHNEW ZEALAND

DA NANGVIETNAM

DAKARSENEGAL

DALLASUNITED STATES

DEYANGCHINA

DURBANSOUTH AFRICA

EL PASOUNITED STATES

ENUGUNIGERIA

GLASGOWUNITED KINGDOM

HUANGSHICHINA

JACKSONVILLE UNITED STATES

JUAREZMEXICO

KIGALIRWANDA

LISBONPORTUGAL

LONDONUNITED KINGDOM

LOS ANGELESUNITED STATES

MANDALAYMYANMAR

MEDELLINCOLOMBIA

MELBOURNEAUSTRALIA

RESILIENTCITIES


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MEXICO CITYMEXICO

MILANITALY

MONTREALCANADA

NEW ORLEANSUNITED STATES

NEW YORK CITYUNITED STATES

NORFOLKUNITED STATES

OAKLANDUNITED STATES

PARISFRANCE

PHNOM PENHCAMBODIA

PITTSBURGHUNITED STATES

PORTO ALEGREBRAZIL

QUITOECUADOR

RAMALLAHWEST BANK

RIO DE JANEIROBRAZIL

ROMEITALY

ROTTERDAMTHE NETHERLANDS

SAN FRANCISCOUNITED STATES

SAN JUANPUERTO RICO, UNITED STATES

SANTA FEARGENTINA

SANTIAGO DE LOSCABALLEROSDOMINICAN REPUBLIC

SANTIAGO,METRO AREACHILE

SEMARANGINDONESIA

SINGAPORESINGAPORE

ST. LOUISUNITED STATES

SURATINDIA

SYDNEYAUSTRALIA

THESSALONIKIGREECE

TOYAMAJAPAN

TULSAUNITED STATES

VEJLEDENMARK

WELLINGTON CITYNEW ZEALAND


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In order to encourage trulyinterdisciplinary work that challengesconventional thinking, Urban SOS: All Systems Go asks teams to definethe questions and problems theywill address, pick a site or sites,and propose solutions at any scale.For instance, teams can address asingle building, a neighborhood, or alandscape; they can look at a stage

along a supply chain or an aspect ofan infrastructure system. Proposalsmay range from planning frameworksto small-scale physical or socialinterventions, a landscape strategy, or asingle piece of architecture. This open-ended approach requires that teams bespecific, strategic, and clear about theirobjectives and proposed outcomes.At the same time, they shouldn’t forcetheir proposals to solve everything.

In particular teams must accomplishthe following as part of their proposals:

- Frame and visualize the problem: In accessible and compellinggraphics and text, describe howthe selected systems work,highlighting key problems andtheir consequences, as well asopportunities for intervention. Inparticular, teams should identifyhow the selected system’s failurecan trigger other systems to fail aswell.

- Think strategically to maximizeimpact: The complexity andurgency of strengthening thesesystems demands high-impactsolutions — surgical or small-scaleinterventions should be replicable,while large-scale thinking must bestrategic and consider real-worldconstraints.

- Develop implementable prototypes:Teams must present at least oneelement or prototype of theirproposal that could be realized in

the next 12 months.

Teams must also identify at least onelocal entity working on similar issuesthat could benefit from collaborationwith the team, inform the team’swork, and be in a position to furtherdevelop or implement the team’sprototype. Potential partners couldbe but are not limited to governmentagencies; humanitarian, charity, orrelief organizations; local community

organization or non-profit advocacyorganizations; or public institutionssuch as a school, hospital, or similarentity. AECOM will donate up toUS$25,000 of cash and in-kind stafftime to a partner organization forimplementation of the winning team’sprototype.

/02PROCESS


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BedZed eco-village in London

Photo: BioRegional/CC by 2.0

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bioregional/10204459353/in/photolist-2x7A5N-7UhsNx-7UhsLB-7UhsHT-7UhsFX-7UhsEa-7UkGxN-7UhsA8-7Uhsyk-7UhswD-7UkGqu-7UkGoY-7UhsqD-7UhsoP-7UkGhS-7UkGfs-7UhshZ-7Uhsga-7UhsdT-7Uhsc2-7Uhs9M-7Uhs7e-7UkG1q-P1Z9P-P1XAv-P1qWS-P1SCt-P1RaZ-P1YiK-2x6mGN-2x7A4C-48vYRe-2ytv-jC3bdM-jC3THP-kqbSyy-xf82N-jC3bqa-5EWTUh-gxJDPR-gxJC6k-gxJ5Mw-xf82L-gxJKNz-gxHzW3-gxJwfn-jC6b29-jC6b79-jC46Bi-4q8tYu/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/https://www.flickr.com/photos/bioregional/10204459353/in/photolist-2x7A5N-7UhsNx-7UhsLB-7UhsHT-7UhsFX-7UhsEa-7UkGxN-7UhsA8-7Uhsyk-7UhswD-7UkGqu-7UkGoY-7UhsqD-7UhsoP-7UkGhS-7UkGfs-7UhshZ-7Uhsga-7UhsdT-7Uhsc2-7Uhs9M-7Uhs7e-7UkG1q-P1Z9P-P1XAv-P1qWS-P1SCt-P1RaZ-P1YiK-2x6mGN-2x7A4C-48vYRe-2ytv-jC3bdM-jC3THP-kqbSyy-xf82N-jC3bqa-5EWTUh-gxJDPR-gxJC6k-gxJ5Mw-xf82L-gxJKNz-gxHzW3-gxJwfn-jC6b29-jC6b79-jC46Bi-4q8tYu/


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Responses will be judged by a juryof leading practitioners from design,engineering and other relevantprofessions based on these criteria:

- It communicates key existingconditions of the chosen site,system, and city in a clear andengaging way, and shows how

the proposal will achieve itsstated goals.

– It demonstrates interdisciplinarythinking and collaborationbetween sectors.

– It resourcefully addressesreal-world constraints.

– It improves the performance ofthe selected system, reducinginefficiency, increasing its reach, orotherwise improving the wellbeing

of people it serves, both in crisesand on an everyday basis.

– It provides additional, ancillarybenefits to the community, town, orcity in which the system is situated.These could include additionalemployment opportunities, betterenvironmental outcomes, etc.

– It includes research on localleadership and institutionalnetworks, and on existing initiativesfrom businesses, philanthropicentities, and government agencies.

/03EVALUATION CRITERIA


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Agricultural fields in the

San Francisco Bay Delta

Conservation plan by AECOM

Photo by David Lloyd/AECOM


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In their proposals, teams are stronglyencouraged to partner with a localorganization working on similar issuesthat could benefit from collaborationwith the team, inform the team’s work,and be in a position to further developor implement the team’s prototype.AECOM approved partner will receivea donation of up to US$25,000 of cashand in-kind staff time from AECOM for

this work. Partnership scenarios couldbe, but are not limited to:

– A government agency

– A humanitarian, charity, or relieforganization

– A local community organization ornon-profit advocacy organization

– A public institution such as aschool, hospital, or similar entity

/04ENGAGEMENT


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Itaipu Dam servicing Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Photo: DeniWilliams/CC by 2.0

https://www.flickr.com/photos/deniwlp84/17335056486/in/photostream/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/https://www.flickr.com/photos/deniwlp84/17335056486/in/photostream/


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The competition is open toundergraduate and graduate studentsat all levels of higher education aroundthe world. Entrants must be enrolled atan accredited institution in a certifiedprogram during the 2015 academic yearat Bachelors, Masters, or Ph.D. levels.

Submissions must come frommultidisciplinary teams of up to

four members; individuals may notparticipate alone. Students from thedesign fields (Architecture, LandscapeArchitecture, Urban Design, UrbanPlanning) who form teams mustinclude members from at least oneother discipline outside of their own,including anthropology, sociology,cultural studies, internationaldevelopment, sustainable economics,engineering, ecology, natural resourcescience, food policy, and otherrelevant fields.

Site selection is open to any of the 67cities identified within the 100 ResilientCities network. They may be at thecenter of one of these cities or at itsfringes. Sites must be geographicallyidentified with a Google Earth orGoogle Maps reference.

A complete list of the current citiesparticipating in 100 Resilient CitiesChallenge can be found here.

/05ELIGIBILITY

http://www.100resilientcities.org/citieshttp://www.100resilientcities.org/citieshttp://www.100resilientcities.org/citieshttp://www.100resilientcities.org/cities


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Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant

New York

Photo: VictoriaBelanger/CC by 2.0

https://www.flickr.com/photos/victoriabelanger/1463173319/in/photolist-3ei9sc-gGmon1-ddLg5s-auk9vc-axoWzA-axmaHg-axoVHU-keNnJK-aunN3s-gGkWPA-gGn1MT-gGmjMq-gGmnos-gGn1QZ-gGmZa4-gGkWcy-gGmk8q-gGn15R-gGkXJS-gGmiyx-gGmkRE-gGmipe-gGmYxH-gGmXBp-3enxK7-gGmjuk-gGn2hk-axmbsH-axm9PH-gGmZAz-gGkUHm-keNohP-9oo2NT-76LykP-76QsHW-axoUVq-3enx2h-axmcw6-bqkbjP-3eibMr-axm7rF-3enyhA-3eiafX-bqkaxv-76LzbK-76Qt15-76LyCF-76QtzS-76Lz3v-76LyYRhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/https://www.flickr.com/photos/victoriabelanger/1463173319/in/photolist-3ei9sc-gGmon1-ddLg5s-auk9vc-axoWzA-axmaHg-axoVHU-keNnJK-aunN3s-gGkWPA-gGn1MT-gGmjMq-gGmnos-gGn1QZ-gGmZa4-gGkWcy-gGmk8q-gGn15R-gGkXJS-gGmiyx-gGmkRE-gGmipe-gGmYxH-gGmXBp-3enxK7-gGmjuk-gGn2hk-axmbsH-axm9PH-gGmZAz-gGkUHm-keNohP-9oo2NT-76LykP-76QsHW-axoUVq-3enx2h-axmcw6-bqkbjP-3eibMr-axm7rF-3enyhA-3eiafX-bqkaxv-76LzbK-76Qt15-76LyCF-76QtzS-76Lz3v-76LyYR


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June 21, 2015Recommended deadline forpre-registration of interest

The suggested deadline forpre-registration of interest is 21 June2015. You may pre-register up untilthe deadline of final submission on 21August 2015

August 21, 2015Final submission deadline at:aecom.com/urbansos

September 17, 2015Announcement of finalist teams

October 15, 2015Presentation and critique ofsemifinalists’ submissions at theA+ D Museum in Los Angeles andannouncement of the winning team

/06SCHEDULE

http://www.aecom.com/urbansoshttp://www.aecom.com/urbansos


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Wind turbines at Queen Elizabeth

Olympic Park Stratford, London

Masterplanning and urban design by AECOM

Photo: NateshRamasamy/CC by 2.0

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ramnaganat/7978874098/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/https://www.flickr.com/photos/ramnaganat/7978874098/


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All Systems Go is the sixth studentdesign competition in AECOM’s UrbanSOS program. Urban SOS was createdto engage students in urban planningand design, architecture, landscapearchitecture, economics, environmentalstudies, and engineering with the issuesconfronting modern cities and allowingthem to propose solutions that, ifworthy, will be seen by established

professionals in their field.

This year, the program is presented inconcert with the Van Alen Institute and100 Resilient Cities –Pioneered by theRockefeller Foundation. 100 ResilientCities was created to help cities becomemore resilient to the physical, socialand economic challenges that are agrowing part of the 21st century. It waslaunched in 2013 on the foundation’scentennial anniversary, as a $100M+commitment to build urban resilience.More about 100 Resilient Cities, its

interventions and methodologies canbe found here.

/07ABOUT

Van Alen Institute brings 120 yearsof experience organizing designcompetitions, as well as developingcross-disciplinary research andprovocative public programs. VanAlen Institute collaborates withcommunities, scholars, policymakers,and professionals on local and globalinitiatives that rigorously investigatethe most pressing social, cultural, and

ecological challenges of tomorrow.

http://www.100resilientcities.org/http://www.100resilientcities.org/


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Lapa, Aquaduct van Carioca

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Photo: hansanting/CC by 2.0

https://www.flickr.com/photos/hansanting/10840196143/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/https://www.flickr.com/photos/hansanting/10840196143/


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RegistrationAll registration takes placeon a dedicated website:aecom.com/urbansos

Registration requires submissionof an online form, which includesidentification of team members, siteselection, and rationale and submissionof a site plan. Full details can be found

in the “How” section of this document.

Entry feeThere is no entry fee for enteringAECOM’s student competition.

EligibilityThe competition is open toundergraduate and graduate studentsat all levels of higher education aroundthe world. Entrants must be enrolledin a certified program during the FallTerm/Semester of the 2015-2016academic year. Submissions must be

from teams of 2-4 members. Individualsmay not apply on their own.

ScheduleSee above

Submission requirementsAll applicants must pre-register theirinterest at aecom.com/urbansos byleaving a contact e-mail address.They may do so at any time until thecompetition deadline of August 21,2015, but must do so before submittingtheir final entry. Pre-registrationensures that you receive all relevantupdates. Therefore, it is recommendedthat you register your interest beforeJune 21, 2015.

/08COMPETITIONTERMS

Final submission is due by midnightEDT on August 21, 2015; entrants mustsubmit:

– A brief description (100-250 words)of their proposal. This statementmust clearly identify the nameof the city and the challengesand solutions that address thecompetition theme.

– The name(s) and contactinformation of the team members.

– Site coordinates (via Google Earth)of the location, or an address thatis searchable on Google Maps.

– A PDF slide presentation of up to 10slides. These must include imagesand/or text. There is no word limitbut font size must be legible whenprinted at A4 paper size.

– All responses must be in English,with any measurements provided inmetric units.

– Optional: Student teams are notrequired to identify a charitable,humanitarian, relief, government,or non-profit partner group, but ifthey have one pre-identified theymay specify one. If identified, thisorganization should be clearlystated in the brief descriptionor PDF slide presentationaccompanying the proposal.

Entrants are encouraged to focustheir submissions on clear, concisecommunication emphasizing mainideas, key points and visible design

solutions. Students may includephotographs, diagrams, drawings,renderings, collages or othervisualizations to express their solution.

Slide presentations must be in AdobeAcrobat PDF format. Each file must beno larger than 5MB. They must be A4paper size and landscape orientation.

Submissions must be uploaded usingthe submission link on aecom.com/ urbansos by midnight EDT on August21, 2015. Entrants will receive aconfirmation that the files have beenuploaded. (Please retain confirmationfor reference.)

Failure to comply with any of thesesubmission requirements will result inimmediate disqualification.

Judging The three final teams will be selected

by a judging panel comprised of AECOMdesign and engineering professionalsfrom offices around the globe. The threefinalist teams will be invited to presenttheir work to a jury at the A+D Museumon October 15, 2015; the jury willannounce the winning team atthe event.

The jury at the A+D event will include:

Claire Bonham-CarterVice President, Design + Planning,AECOM

Stephen Engblom, AssocAIA,Senior Vice President, Cities, AECOM

David van der LeerExecutive Director, Van Alen Institute

http://www.aecom.com/urbansoshttp://www.aecom.com/urbansoshttp://www.aecom.com/urbansoshttp://www.aecom.com/urbansoshttp://www.aecom.com/urbansoshttp://www.aecom.com/urbansoshttp://www.aecom.com/urbansoshttp://www.aecom.com/urbansos


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Bryna LipperVice President, 100 Resilient Cities– Pioneered by the RockefellerFoundation

Mimi ZeigerCo-president, Los Angeles Forum forArchitecture and Urban Design

The jury will be chaired by

Bill Hanway, AIA Executive Vice President, GlobalArchitecture, AECOM

NotificationAll entrants will be notified by e-mailby September 17, 2015 when thethree finalist teams are announced.The three finalist teams will be givenapproximately one month to developtheir proposals further. The winningteam will be announced at the event atthe Center for Architecture onOctober 15, 2015.

Winner and prizes Each of the three semi-finalistteams will receive an honorarium tocontribute to travel expenses relatedto visiting Los Angeles to present theteam’s submission. These honorariaare to contribute to expenses relatedto attendance and presentation atthe A+D Museum only and cannot beexchanged for other prizes. No othercosts or fees will be covered by AECOMor the sponsors.

The winning team (or teams) willreceive a cash prize. The total prizemoney is valued at US$15,000, whichmay be divided among one or morewinning teams.

Up to US$25,000 of combination ofcash and in-kind staff time will bedonated by AECOM to a charitable orhumanitarian organization or relatedagency to help further develop thewinning proposal. Decisions made bythe jury shall be final.

Number of entriesIndividuals may participate on only one

team. Each team is permitted to enteronly one submission.

Publication restrictionsEntrants may not refer to projects thathave already been implemented or thathave been designed on the basis of anyagreement entered into by the entrantor entrants with a public, public/privateor fully private body with the intentionof actual development of the projectin question. Similarly, entries may notrefer to projects published before thelast day of the deliberations of the

judging panel.

Infringement of copyright and otherintellectual propertyAll work submitted for the competitionmust be the entrant’s original work.It is the entrant’s sole responsibilityto ensure that the work submitteddoes not infringe upon the intellectualproperty rights of any third party,including, but not limited to copyright,trademark and design right. AECOMshall not be responsible for entrant’sinfringement of any third partyintellectual property rights, regardlessof whether said infringement wasknown or should have been knownby entrant.

Use of submitted worksEntrant agrees that AECOM andcompetition sponsors are granted thenon-exclusive reproduction rights toall entries for AECOM’s advertising,promotion, exhibition, print publicationand internet purposes directly relatingto the competition. AECOM shall haveno responsibility for any unauthorizeduse of the entrant’s works by any third

party, including but not limited to thesponsors.

AECOM reserves the right to cancel thecompetition or amend the competitionrules, as well as these terms andconditions, without notice. However, anychanges to the competition rules, aswell as these terms, AECOM shall notifythe entrants as soon as possible.

By entering this competition an entrantis indicating his/her agreement to bebound by these terms and conditions.

This competition shall be governedin all respects, including validity,interpretation and effect by the laws ofthe State of California without givingeffect to the conflict of laws principles.

All taxes on any prize won are the soleresponsibility of each winner, including,without limitation, any federal, state,or local taxes, which may be deemedapplicable in such winner’s jurisdictionof residence.

Further information and questions:All information required can be found onaecom.com/urbansos

If you have questions, please contactAECOM at [email protected]

http://www.aecom.com/urbansosmailto:aidan.flaherty%40aecom.com?subject=mailto:aidan.flaherty%40aecom.com?subject=http://www.aecom.com/urbansos


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