Capitol Competition Avenue Site
Presented by:
In Partnership with: ASLA
ARKANSAS
COMPETITION INTRO:
envision LITTLE ROCK 2013 ideas competition The Envision Little Rock Ideas competition was the first ever urban design and ideas competition of this scale organized for the city of Little Rock. The competition, and the projects it produced, provided a look into the future for an undeveloped and neglected portion of the downtown Little Rock landscape. The idea for the competition was conceived many years ago by a Little Rock landscape architect, Bob Callans. The site and the program for the competition was inspired by a parks master plan completed for the city of Little Rock in 1913 by John Nolen. Nolen, a landscape architect by trade, had a vision for Little Rock as a “city within a park.” For many years before the 2013 Envision competition, Mr. Callans introduced the site as a project for landscape architecture students at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. As a centennial recognition of Nolen’s 1913 master plan, Mr. Callans approached StudioMAIN to help collaborate and present the site and project as a public design and ideas competition for local and statewide architects, landscape architects, and the general public. Nolen’s parks plan focused on creating a network of green corridors and tree-lined boulevards to connect public and pedestrian rights-of-way throughout the city. His concepts for the plan focused on establishing transportation connections, locally identifiable icons, and open green space for general use by the public. The plan proposed a regional train station at the eastern end of Capitol Avenue called the Choctaw Station. This would have established Capitol Avenue as the primary east-west connection and created a ‘ceremonial boulevard’ for those entering the city from the station and seeing the Capitol building terminating the view to the west. However, the Choctaw Station had already been planned to be built elsewhere and so the area became a primarily residential neighborhood called Rector Town. In 1967, Interstate 30 was constructed at the eastern end of capitol avenue and severed Capitol Avenue and created a veritable dead-end. The Envision Little Rock competition picked up on Nolen’s concept for the Choctaw Depot site and sought creative ideas for the establishment of an eastern terminus for Capitol Avenue. This created an opportunity for a monumental and memorable gateway that would also provide an opposing visual anchor to the Capitol building and build upon Nolen’s ideas within a complex urban environment a century later.
The competition was open to the public and professionals from all backgrounds including designers, artists, and other creative folks who have a strong desire to affect the future of Little Rock. The competition challenged the public and professional design community to generate innovative concepts for the eastern terminus of Capitol Avenue. This area of Little Rock has been experiencing rapid growth over the past decade that has focused on a high density live/ work environment with alternative transportation opportunities, environmentally focused design, and a vibrant museum and arts culture.. The Envision competition would ultimately be asking participants to seek creative solutions that will bridge the proverbial gap, build upon peripheral development, and become a memorable icon and gateway to the City of Little Rock.
Timeline of the competition: • Competition registration began on January 14th 2013. • Competition registration ended May 15th, 2013. • Competition ran from May 15th to July 15th, 2013. • Jury deliberation began in August, 2013. • Public voting for the three design categories began in September 2013. • Winners announced in December 2013 and presented at the John Nolen Exhibit Event on December 12, 2013. Registration for the competition began in January 2013 and closed on May 15th. The competition had over 30 registrations that included the local public, collaborative teams, design firms, and students. The design period lasted 3 months and concluded on July 15th, 2013. Eleven entries were ultimately submitted and judged by local city officials and neighborhood representatives from the area. The esteemed jury panel for the two submission categories in professional & public/student looked for innovative concepts for the development of the competition site in terms of level of design detail, planning for future contingencies, an iconic gateway for the city, and as a multi-functional piece of urban infrastructure. All entrants were encouraged to focus on sustainable alternatives that incorporate multi-functional and adaptive solutions for a growing urban district in downtown Little Rock. With thousands of cars passing every day, I-30 presented a major design challenge as well as an opportunity to provide a visual attraction for passersby who are coming into Little Rock. Entrants were also encouraged to consider future plans in the area which includes possible Light Rail service to the Little Rock airport, and future plans for widening the I-30 corridor. The Jury committee consisted of: Jeff Shannon, retired Dean of the U of A school of Architecture, Bruce Moore, Little Rock City Manager, Jim McKenzie, Executive Director of Metroplan, Sharon Priest, Executive Director Downtown Partnership, Larry Alman, owner of Sol Alman Co. which is located in the area of study. & Bob Callans, Landscape Architect with Keep Little Rock Beautiful. Each registrant category (Professional, Student/Public) was narrowed down to 3 finalists by the jury. The Jury was given a guide of design points to help determine the winners. Those design points were: DESIGNS SHOULD ADDRESS/INCLUDE: • Recognition of John Nolan’s 1913 Plan for the City of Little Rock. • Large/iconic solution- possibly seen from all around the city. • Something characteristic/endemic of Arkansas, think ‘sense of place’. • Represent the “face” of Little Rock, become memorable. • Terminal point of Capitol Ave- visual/metaphorical dynamic with the capitol. • Multi-use structure & high functionality is always good!
DESIGNS HAVE POTENTIAL TO INCLUDE: • A transportation feature. • The new technology park that will be built. • Recognition of the overlap of government, financial, arts and historic districts/hubs of the city. From these finalists a winner was chosen from each category but kept secret until the celebration event of John Nolen’s plan in December. During September and up until the October event, the public voted on all submissions via an online platform hosted by Metroplan. Arkansas AIA generously funded the public voting portion of the awards totaling $750. The public awards were broken into three categories:
• “Envisioning an Icon” ($250) - for the project that presents the best iconic and memorable design.
• “Establishing Connections” ($250) - for the project that establishes vital connections for cur rent and future contingencies.
• “The Wildcard” ($250) – where anything goes.
Winners of the jury deliberated awards can also win one of the public voting categories increasing their award money. In December of 2013, the finalists and winners of the two categorical jury awards of $1500 were announced as well as the winners of the public voting categories.
• Professional Category winner– “Gateway” by John Krug. Jr., Architect. Mr. Krug is a sole practitioner with offices in Fayetteville, AR and is an Arkansas native. ($1500 prize donated by the City of Little Rock)
• Student/Public Category winner – “Silver Spire” by Adel Vaughn and Mary Patterson of Fayetteville, AR. Both are 3rd year students in the landscape architecture program at the Fay Jones School of Architecture at the University of Arkansas. ($1500 prize donated by Little Rock convention and Visitor’s Bureau)
Public voting winners:
• “Envisioning an Icon” ($250) – “Gateway” by John Krug. Jr. • “Establishing Connections” ($250) – “Urban Greenway” by Chris Sheppard. • “The Wildcard” ($250) – “Agri-city” by Maury Mitchell.
John Nolan’s 1913 Master Plan Capitol Competition Avenue Site
Presented by:
In Partnership with: ASLA
ARKANSAS
John Nolen Competition Masterplan Site 1913!
Presented by:
In Partnership with: ASLA
ARKANSAS
on
Interstate 30
Rivermarket District
Competition Site
Clinton Presidential Library and Park
E 3rd Street
E 3rd Street
Ark DemGaz
E 4th Street
Heifer International
Capitol Avenu
E 5th Street
un
dar
y
e
Si
te
E 6th Street
state
Inter
Collins St
Ge
al n er
Byrd St
Bo
E 6th Street
30 150’
300’
Expanded I-30 Cooridor (planned)
on
od s
Mass Transit Route to Airport (planned)
Rapid Rail Route (planned)
Historic Neighborhood Components
envIsion
LITTLE ROCK 2013
deas competition
The why...
In honor of the 100 year anniversary of John Nolen’s 1913 document Report On A Park System for Little Rock, the 2013 ENVISION Competition seeks to challenge design professionals and the public to generate imaginative ideas about the future of a historic but disconnected site in downtown Little Rock. This competition strives to promote engaging, iconic, and transformative ideas to create a new gateway into the city that will inspire, direct, and reconnect while mainatining a sense of place and local identity.
Arkansas River
The where...
The competition site lies at the eastern terminus and intersection of Capitol Avenue and Interstate 30 in downtown Little Rock at the northern edge of the Hanger Hill neighborhood. Nolen’s plan envisioned Capitol Avenue as a ceremonial boulevard, and this site as an iconic gateway to the city with the capitol building forming the western terminus of the boulevard.
Competition registration begins January 14 2013 March 1, 2013 registration ends (site walkthrough planned after registration) March 15, 2013 competition begins July 15, 2013 competition ends August 2013 jury panel judging September 2013 public voting November 2013 winners will be announced during the 100 year celebration of John Nolan’s park master plan for Little Rock.
3rd Street
Capitol Av enue 6th Street
ENVISION ideas competition is open to all students, design professionals, artists, and anyone with a strong affinity for the future of Little Rock’s urban agenda, we encourgae all participants to either work in or have strong connections with Arkansas.
Jury panel awards: Professional - $1500 Public - $1500 Student - $1500
Public voting award categories where anyone can win: “Envisioning an Icon” - best iconic design - $250 “Establishing Connections” - speaks for itself - $250 “Wildcard” - where anything goes... - $250
the site Hanger Hill Neighborhood
THINK BIG
Entry fees: Currently enrolled students - Free Public & Professionals - $35 Presented by: In partnership with:
Ark DemGaz
4th Street
The who...
DESIGN BOLD
Clinton Library
Interstate 30
Rivermarket District
The when...
Macarthur Park
9th Street
Please visit our website and other social media for info: ASLA
ARKANSAS
http://envisionlittlerock2013.tumblr.com/ /envision.littlerock @EnvisionLR2013 @
envIsion
deas competition
LITTLE ROCK 2013
Envision Little Rock Ideas Competition 2013 Registration Form Please Mail Registration Form, payment, and transcript(s) in one envelope to: Studio Main http://envisionlittlerock2013.tumblr.com 1423-C South Main envisionlittlerock@ymail.com Little Rock, AR 72202
Professional($35) or
Public ($35):
*if paying with Paypal please complete that transaction and get receipt # before sending form.
First Name:________________________________Last Name:____________________________________ Business/Firm Name or Occupation__________________________________________________________ Address_________________________________________City________________________State_______ Primary Phone (_____)_______________________Alternative Phone (_____)________________________ Email address (necessary for correspondence)_________________________________________________ Individual Entry Group/Collaborative Entry Number of group members:__________ List members - *if more than 4 list 3 primary members: Team Member 1 Name: _______________________________________________ Team Member 2 Name: _______________________________________________ Team Member 3 Name: _______________________________________________ Make check/money order payable to Studio Main Payment Method: Paypal (inlude info below) Check (enclosed) Money Order (enclosed) Paypal receipt Number ___________________________________________ Paypal Name First:______________________Last:_____________________ Date of Paypal Donation/Payment___________________________________ Email used for Paypal:____________________________________________
Student (Free registration): First Name:________________________________Last Name:___________________________________ Address_______________________________________City_________________________State________ Primary Phone (_____)______________________Alternative Phone (_____)_____________-__________ Email address (necessary for correspondence)________________________________________________ 2nd Email address_______________________________________________________________________ Current School________________________________________________Major_____________________ Individual Entry Group/Collaborative Entry
Number of group members:______
List members - *maximum of 4 members
Team Member 1: ________________________________Student?____________ Team Member 2: ________________________________Student?____________ Team Member 3: ________________________________Student?____________ **Please include a printed copy of the transcripts for individuals and all listed members (does not need to be official copy, a printed ‘print screen’ from your academic school website will work). If you are outof-state, please include a brief description of you Arkansas affiliation on the back of this form.
site visit April 6, 2013
THE ENTRIES:
JUDGING / EXHIBITION:
envision Ideas Competition Judging Packet 2013
Competition Background: Registration for the competition began in January 2013 and closed on May 15th. The competition had over 30oregistrations included theNlocal collaborative design firms, and In celebration f the 100 year athat nniversary of John olan’s public, 1913 “City in a Park” mteams, aster plan for Little students. The design period lasted months and on July 2013. Eleven entries Rock, AR the Envision competition sought 3creative ideas for concluded the establishment of 15th, an eastern terminus were ultimately submitted and judged by local city officials and neighborhood representatives for Capitol Avenue that would also serve as an iconic gateway to the city. In 1913, Nolan saw Capitol from the The esteemed jury panel the two categories in Lprofessional & Avenue as tarea. he ceremonial boulevard that would for transect the submission gridded streets of downtown ittle Rock, public/student looked for innovative concepts for the development of the competition site in establishing a visual and physical connection between the Capitol building and the proposed Choctaw terms of level of design detail, planning for future contingencies, an iconic gateway for the city, Depot to the east. This competition builds upon Nolan’s ideas within a complex urban environment 100 and as a multi-functional piece of urban infrastructure. All entrants were encouraged to focus on years later. sustainable alternatives that incorporate multi-functional and adaptive solutions for a growing
urban district in downtown Little Rock. Eligibility:
Competition as o pen design to the pwere ublic alimited nd professionals from to all ensure backgrounds including designers, The artists, Guidelineswfor the in an effort creative expression. envision committee proposed to provoke thought and other creative folks wseveral ho have aquestions strong desire to affect the future oabout f the gpossible reat city of contingiencies: Little Rock. Individual participant submissions were accepted and collaborative group submissions were also • How does respond toSwhat Nolen encouraged. There was your a 35 dentry ollar fee for entry. tudent John entries were fsaw ree. as an important entrance to the city of Little Rock?
• How do you see a connection being established across I-30? • Does your design capture or create a sense of place that presents Little Rock and John Nolan’s park master plan for Little Rock emphasized the importance of an eastern entrance to the city through Arkansas in a creative way? the planned Choctaw Depot as an opportunity for a monumental and memorable gateway would • How you theaneeds the Hanger Hill neighborhood? that also pwill rovide an respond opposing to visual nchor to of the Capitol building. This area of Little Rock has
Design Challenge:
been experiencing rapid growth over the past decade that has focused on a high density live/work All entrantswwere encouraged to focusoon sustainable alternativesfocused that incorporate environment ith alternative transportation pportunities, environmentally design, and amulti functional andaadaptive solutions for a growing urban district inudowntown Little Rock. vibrant museum nd arts culture. The Envision competition seeks to build pon this development by With thousandsaof cars gpassing every day, I-30 presented a design challenge astwell asthe an establishing n iconic ateway to the city that utilizes progressive urban design solutions o solve opportunity provideby athe visual attraction passersby toInterstate come to30 Little Rock. Entrants complex issue to presented competition site. for The north/south viaduct presents an were additional visual and to connective design challenge that has been which seen in includes many urban areas across also encouraged consider future plans in the area possible Lightthe Rail service United S tates. E nvision a sks p articipants t o s eek c reative s olutions t hat w ill b ridge t he p roverbial g ap, to the Little Rock airport, and future plans for widening the I-30 corridor. Site analysis would go a bring ife to in a vdetermining acant area, and become a memorable con and gateway to the City of Little Rock. long lway the outcome of your idesign.
Timeline of the competition: • Competition registration began on January 14th 2013. • Competition registration ended May 15th, 2013. • Competition ran from May 15th to July 15th, 2013. • Jury deliberation began in August, 2013. • Public voting for the three design categories began in September 2013. • Winners announced in December 2013 and presented at the John Nolen Exhibit Event on December 12, 2013.
1
A public exhibition of the work was held at StuioMAIN in August of 2013. Over 75 people were in attandance and were givan an opportunity to view and vote on all of the submissions for the public awards. The boards remianed at StudioMAIN for the remainder of the fall as an exhibit. The public awards were broken into three categories:
• “Envisioning an Icon” ($250) - for the project that presents the best iconic and memorable design. • “Establishing Connections” ($250) - for the project that establishes vital connections for current and future contingencies. • “The Wildcard” ($250) – where anything goes.
The professional jury met on August 18th, 2013 at the Emerging Analytics Center on the University of Arkansas at Little Rock campus. The EAC provided the jury with a high-tech way to view the submission that were digitally projected on a large screen to enhance the details provided on each submission board. The Jury committee consisted of:
Jeff Shannon, retired Dean of the U of A school of Architecture, Bruce Moore, Little Rock City Manager, Jim McKenzie, Executive Director of Metroplan, Sharon Priest, Executive Director Downtown Partnership, Larry Alman, owner of Sol Alman Co. which is located in the area of study. Bob Callans, Landscape Architect with Keep Little Rock Beautiful.
The jury was asked to narrow down the submissions into finalists and winners. The winners, however, would not be announced until December of 2013. The jury was given a guide of design points to help determine the finalists for each of the two categories (Professional & Student/ Public) Those design points were:
DESIGNS SHOULD ADDRESS/INCLUDE: • Recognition of John Nolan’s 1913 Plan for the City of Little Rock. • Large/iconic solution- possibly seen from all around the city. • Something characteristic/endemic of Arkansas, think ‘sense of place’. • Represent the “face” of Little Rock, become memorable. • Terminal point of Capitol Ave- visual/metaphorical dynamic with the capitol. • Multi-use structure & high functionality is always good!
DESIGNS HAVE POTENTIAL TO INCLUDE: • A transportation feature. • The new technology park that could be built. • Recognition of the overlap of government, financial, arts and historic districts/hubs of the city.
From these finalists a winner was chosen from each category but kept secret until the celebration event of John Nolen’s plan in December. During September and up until the October event, the public voted on all submissions via an online platform hosted by Metroplan & in person at StudioMAIN. By the December celebration event, over 1850 individual votes had been cast in person and on-line for the public voting category. Arkansas AIA generously funded the public voting portion of the awards totaling $750.
exhibit opening @ studioMAIN August 9, 2013
AWARDS & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Projects listed in order of appearance:
STUDENT CATEGORY Finalist - Overall Student: Mary Nell Patterson & Adel Vaughn, Landscape Architecture Students - (S3820) “The Silver Spire” Finalist - Runner-up Student: Chase & Tucker, Architecture Students - (S3520) “Establishing an Urban Network” PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY Finalist - Overall Professional & Public Vote ‘Envisioning an Icon’: John Krug - (P1250) “Gateway” WER Architects - (P1498) “The National Trail of Tears Museum” deMx Architecture - (P2049) “Four Points Park” Mason Ellis - (P3095) “Gateway Center” Finalist: MESA Landscape Architects - (P3710) “Echo Park” Public Vote ‘Wildcard’: Maury Mitchel - (P4194) “Agri-City” Finalist: PSW Architects - (P6242) “Diamond in the Rock” Peter Bednar - (P9662) “Gateway Neighborhood” Finalist & Public Vote ‘Establishing Connections’: Chris Sheppard - (P7643) “Urban Greenway”