URBAN

Competition brief

URBAN

ContentsWhy p2What p3Who p4Where p5When p13How p14Competition Terms p16

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URBAN

Why

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Urban SOS is AECOM’s annual student competition. It was created to engage students in the fields of urban planning and design, architecture, landscape architecture and engineering with the issues confronting modern cities and to allow them to propose solutions that will be seen by established professionals in their field.

With more than half of the world living in cities, the way in which we address urban challenges will determine much about our future as a planet. As a global design and engineering consultancy, AECOM recognizes that cities require broad-based, interdisciplinary thinking and, if properly managed, can become machines for environmental and social progress. This is why we are pioneering our Global Cities Institute in addition to Urban SOS.

The program culminates each year at the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona. ‘Transformations’ is the driving theme of the Festival and of this year’s Urban SOS. For AECOM, this partnership is pivotal to growing our global architecture practice, in which we seek to reinvent the role of the architect as part of an integrated team who makes connections between land and buildings, ecology and economy, physical design and social reality.

Cash prize that will be awarded to the winning team(s):

US$20,000 City where semi-finalists will receive a complimentary trip to present before the World Architecture Festival:

Barcelona

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What

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AECOM is seeking submissions for our second Urban SOS competition. The theme of this year’s competition is Transformations. We are seeking integrated design and planning responses in five specific cities worldwide, which are currently undergoing an elemental transformation. In each city, a specific event or set of conditions offers both opportunities and challenges to improving the quality and tenor of built environments, the effectiveness of infrastructure and the responsible stewardship of ecological interactions.

City-specific briefs are outlined in the ‘Where’ section. Entrants must select one city and offer a competition entry that responds directly to the question posed in it.

As the cities are transforming themselves, Entrants must articulate and propose a design and/or planning initiative or response that will help the city to positively address transformation. Responses can range from a strategic framework to a surgical micro-response. Entrants should demonstrate a holistic approach to expressing these transformations. Designs should show a connective language that can embrace many or all aspects of the site. They should express a language of built form that ties together land, community, buildings, ecology, infrastructure, economic and social activity to strategically transform your site.

We are asking for professional responses to challenging questions. Judges will value creativity and innovation, but your response must be fundamentally deliverable.

Responses will be judged based on these criteria:• Response directly answers

stated question for chosen city• Clear strategy for how proposal

will affect larger city’s transformative state

• Clear sense of how proposed design will affect transformation of site

• Holistic approach to design that fully embraces site

• Appreciation for interdisciplinary thinking beyond traditional practice

• Creativity and innovation• Feasibility and viability• Ability to communicate ideas

in a clear, interesting and compelling manner

The most successful responses will be those that are well-presented, combining the points of view of more than one discipline – architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, economics, planning, ecological science, etc – and are realistically able to be implemented given pre-existing, city-specific antecedents, conditions, socio-economic and politico-cultural realities.

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Who

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The competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students at all levels of higher education in all countries of the world. Entrants must be enrolled in a certified degree programme during the Autumn 2010 term.

• Levels: Bachelors, Masters, Ph.D. students.

• Fields of Study: Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, Economics, Environmental Science, Engineering, and related disciplines.

Submissions may be from individuals or teams of up to 4 members. Teams will benefit from having members of multiple disciplines.

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Where

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Entrants should submit a response to one of the seven city-specific questions articulated in the following pages. Each team may only submit a response to one.

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Considered a story of urban sprawl, this desert city is now attempting to revive its urban core, having lived beyond its limits. Its model of low density, high volume of resource depletion and harsh climatic conditions has been replicated in various forms across the United States and now in the developing world, from the Middle East to China. It is a model that can no longer continue, for reasons both ecological and increasingly economical. Now that the housing bubble has burst and the climate crisis is in full swing, what is a sprawling desert megapolitan like Phoenix to do?

Find a site (building, open space, neighborhood) in Phoenix where redevelopment of existing typologies or fragments could result in a low- or no-carbon outcome, which could be widely implementable to similar sites in the Sun Corridor region (Greater Phoenix-Tucson) and contexts elsewhere in the world that are facing the same issues.

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The glittering skylines of Middle East boom cities are a cliché in today’s international popular culture. Jeddah, long the gateway of Saudi Arabia to the world given its proximity to the holy sites at Mecca and Medina, is on the cusp of a new wave of land development. Recent liberalization in its development regulations will open unplanned settlements to more investment from public and private interests. Now that Jeddah has decided to make the leap into the stratosphere of real estate, how can it create model new land developments that are both ecologically responsible and culturally sustainable?

Propose a private land-development project – a mixed-use scheme, a retail precinct, a residential development – on an actual site in Jeddah that is responsible; that is, it is sensitive to site and climatic conditions, reflects the unique Arab culture of its surroundings, and minimizes its carbon footprint.

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Following the Summer Olympics, the crowds have left Beijing and the infrastructure built for them remains. The Chinese capital now finds itself equipped with major sporting facilities, new rail lines, new roads, countless new office buildings and

apartment blocks – all of it built in the last few years at an astonishing scale and rapidity, all in the name of the 2008 Games. Today, though, many of these places stand empty, under-used and under-utilized. Now, nearly two years on, how can Beijing capitalize on the

infrastructure investment it has already made to propel itself into long-term improvement?

Find a recently built place(s) or ’piece of city’ in Beijing such as a new neighborhood, building, park, piece of infrastructure. Plot a course for it. How can it be used, and useful, in a way that will enhance quality of life first-and-foremost for local residents?

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The capital of Haiti, Port au Prince, has recently endured one of the most cataclysmic events in recent memory: a massive earthquake that left this poor, underdeveloped city devastated, killing an estimated 200,000 people. The herculean task of remaking the city is exacerbated by conditions of low-grade infrastructure, a nearly non-existent civil society, and extreme poverty. Now that the dust has settled from a massive natural disaster, what model is out there for Port au Prince to rebuild?

Propose a redevelopment to a site (building, open space, neighborhood) in Port au Prince that has been damaged by the earthquake. Your response must be conscious of great disadvantages facing Haiti and must be implementable in light of its societal conditions: namely, a weak state and marginal resources.

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Istanbul is this year’s European Capital of Culture, an opportunity that puts it in an international spotlight where it can showcase its cultural identity and development. As a result, with investment at the municipal, national and European levels, Istanbul is in the midst of a renaissance that is bringing increased tourism volume to a newfound relevance in contemporary art. Istanbul straddles (literally) two worlds – West and East, Europe and the Middle East, developed and developing, ancient and modern – and it is the major city in a society with deep aspirations to join the European Union. Now that Istanbul has ‘arrived’ on the European scene, how can the city use its Capital of Culture distinction

and its ancient heritage to bolster its international profile as a forward-thinking hub for contemporary creative industries?

Find a site (building, open space, neighborhood) in Istanbul where redevelopment could help to enhance the city’s competitive edge in the European and global context as a generator for ideas and trends, and a magnet for jobs and investment. Redevelopment should be organic; that is, it finds its roots in the city’s existing cultural and physical topography. It should also be socially and economically responsive to the needs of multiple members of the community.

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One of the world’s largest cities, São Paulo sits within a wider megapolitan context that includes Rio de Janeiro (another one of the world’s largest cities), and million-plus cities Campinas and Guarulhos. As Brazil emerges onto the world stage as an important player, its cities – and São Paulo in particular – will play an increasingly important role in the global economic network. The result is a steady increase in overall visitor arrivals. Despite a growing tourism trajectory, Brazil still lags behind in much of the infrastructure that underpins a successful visitor offer. Now that São Paolo is expected to see a steady increase in outside visitors, how can the city offer the world-class facilities and systems needed to support this?

Find a site (building, open space, neighborhood) in São Paulo where responsible redevelopment will help bolster tourism and make the visitor experience a beneficial one. Take into consideration the anticipated arrivals for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games in nearby Rio, as well as business travelers and general tourists alike. Design a destination – a place that will add to São Paulo’s luster, while still rooted in its vernacular qualities and will benefit local inhabitants.

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2010 is the year of South Africa. This year marks the twentieth anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison and the country is the host to this year’s World Cup, the world’s most watched athletic tournament. Despite all this, South Africa’s largest city still faces big challenges: how to integrate a well-presented city center with large informal settlements that surround the city, grapple with increasing public safety concerns, and provide economic opportunities for a population that continues to have deep socio-economic divisions. Twenty years on from the beginning of the end of political inequality, Johannesburg faces a new challenge: how to make the city socio-economically relevant to all communities.

Find a site (building, open space, neighborhood) in Johannesburg that can benefit from a design intervention that will help support a local industry, or bridge the economic gap between haves and have-nots. This intervention should leverage existing skills found within a segment of Johannesburg’s diverse communities.

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When

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1 May 2010 Call for submissions opens

31 July 2010 Submission Deadline

15 September 2010Announcement of 5 Semi-Finalists

3-5 November 2010 Presentation + Critique of Semi-Finalists’ Submissions at the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona, Spain

5 November 2010 Announcement of Winner(s)

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How

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Submission Requirements

Each entry will have two components:

1) A project statement

A 500-word description of the site and response to the question. This statement must clearly indicate the name of the city. It must also include coordinates (via Google Earth) of the site, or a search-able address on Google Earth. This statement must include only words/numbers, must be in 12pt font, and must be submitted as a PDF.

2) Presentation

Submit a PDF presentation of up to 10 slides. These must include images and/or text. There is no word limit but font size must be legible (minimum 12pt). All responses must be in English, with any measurements provided in metric.

Each page of the PDF must be Landscape Orientation, 25.4cm x 19.05cm. PDF files must be 10 pages maximum. Any submitted files that include more than 10 pages will be disqualified.

Entrants are encouraged to focus their submissions on clear, concise communication emphasizing main ideas, key points, and visible design solutions. Students may include photographs, diagrams, drawings, renders, collages or other visualizations to express their solution. Entrants are encouraged to ensure that the narrative for their submission is clear and explicit.

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How

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Submission Format

Submissions must be in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. Each file must be no larger than 5MB.

Submissions must be uploaded using the submission link on this website by 12pm GMT on 31 July 2010. Entrants will receive a confirmation that the files have been uploaded and will receive a confirmation number. (Please retain confirmation for reference.)

Failure to comply with any of these submission requirements will result in immediate disqualification.

Semi-finalists’ Submission Requirements

Four or five semi-finalist teams will be selected to develop their proposals further and invited to present their submissions to the final judging panel at the 2010 World Architecture Festival in Barcelona. The semi-finalists will be announced on or before 15 September 2010.

Each of these teams will be provided with an honorarium to contribute to travel costs (amount varies depending on location of team). At the World Architecture Festival, the semi-finalists will be invited to present their submissions in an appropriate format (presentation, video, display boards, model) to the judging panel. Further details on submission requirements will be provided to the semi-finalists.

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Competition terms

SubmissionCompetition submission requires completion of an online form, which includes identification of team members, site selection, and submission of two PDF documents: the project statement and presentation. Full details can be found in the ‘How’ section of this brief.

Entry feeThere is no entry fee for entering the AECOM Student Competition.

Schedule + deadlines1 May 2010: Call for submissions opens31 July 2010: Submission Deadline 15 September 2010: Announcement of the Semi-finalists3-5 November 2010 : Presentation and critique of Semi-finalists’ submissions at the World Architecture Festival5 November 2010: Announcement of the Winner

EligibilityThe competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students at all levels of higher education in all countries of the world. At the time of submission (31 July 2010) and at the World Architecture Festival (3-5 November 2010), entrants must be able to demonstrate that all team members are enrolled in a certified degree programme during the Autumn 2010 term. No exceptions will be made to this requirement.

Team compositionIndividuals may participate on only one team. Each team is permitted to enter only one submission. All team members must be able to demonstrate compliance with the eligibility criteria set out above.

No changes are permitted to team members following entry submission, and no substitutions can be made to team members at any stage in the competition. Withdrawal of any team members must be confirmed in writing by all team members, and any team members that withdraw will not be eligible for the travel honoraria or prize money. Publication restrictionsEntrants may not refer to projects that have already been implemented or which have been designed on the basis of any agreement entered into by the Entrant or Entrants with a public, public/private or fully private body with the intention of actual development of the project in question. Similarly, entries may not refer to of projects published before the last day of the deliberations of the judging panel.

Infringement of copyright + other intellectual property All work submitted for the competition must be the Entrant’s original work. It is the Entrant’s sole responsibility to ensure that the work submitted does not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of any third party, including, but not limited to copyright, trademark and design right. AECOM shall not be responsible for Entrant’s infringement of any third party intellectual property rights, regardless of whether said infringement was known or should have been known by Entrant.

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JudgingThe semi-finalists will be selected by a judging panel comprising representatives from AECOM and the Architecture Review.

The top 10 Entrants will receive special mention on the competition website. Five semi-finalists will be invited to present their work to the final judging panel at the World Architecture Festival.

The winning team will be determined by the final judging panel at the World Architecture Festival, comprising AECOM leaders and industry experts.

NotificationAll Entrants will be notified by email on 1 September 2010 when the semi-finalists are announced. The winning team will be announced at the World Architecture Festival on 5 November 2010. Winner + prizesEach of the four/five semi-finalist teams will receive an honorarium to contribute to travel expenses related to attending the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona to present the team’s submission. The semi-finalist honoraria are to contribute to expenses related to attendance and presentation at the World Architecture Festival only and cannot be exchanged or substituted for other prizes. In addition, each team will receive US$500 to contribute to additional costs. No other costs or fees will be covered by AECOM or the sponsors.

The winning team (or teams) will receive a cash prize. The total prize money is valued at US$20,000, which may be divided amongst one or more winning teams. In 2009, the winning team received US$15,000, while the two runner-up teams received US$2,500 each as prize money.

Decisions made by the judging panel shall be final.

Use of submitted worksEntrant agrees that AECOM and competition sponsors are granted the non-exclusive reproduction rights to all entries for AECOM’s advertising, promotion, exhibition, print publication and internet purposes directly relating to the competition.

AECOM shall have no responsibility for any unauthorised use of the Entrant’s works by any third party, including but not limited to the sponsors.

Public announcement + exhibitionAll competition submissions, the winning proposals and all other submitted proposals, will be exhibited online. The exhibition will continue through the spring of 2011.

Further information + questionsAll information required can be found on this website. If you have questions that cannot be answered online, please contact AECOM at urbansos2010@aecom.com. Questions that relate to information set out in the Competition Terms will not receive a response.