Competition Brief
Section One
Competition Brief
THE SITE AND PROGRAM
•The site is located along the South Mint Street Corridor, on the corner of South Mint and Summit Avenue. It is a combination of 4 lots along South Mint Street. Addresses are noted below in the aerial photograph. Link to Mecklenburg County GIS: http://polaris3g.mecklenburgcountync.gov
•Design should include minimum of 8 live/work dwellings at 1,200 sf each, a minimum of 8 family dwellings at 1,800 sf each , and a minimum of 4,000 SF of office or retail shop space that is easily subdivided. All office or retail space should be located on the ground level. Density is encouraged.
•25% of each type of residential unit will be fully accessible to people with disabilities .
•25% of the site should remain open and may be used for community gardens, Farmer’s Market, or other activity.
•Provide parking for residents’ cars. Parking may be adjacent to the dwelling or remotely located on the site.
•Provide bicycle parking.
•Existing buildings on site will not remain, but existing street parking will remain.
•Zero setbacks along West Summit and South Mint Streets; 20’-0” setbacks next to residential areas and 10’-0” setbacks next to business areas.
EXAMPLE PROFILES FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT LIVE HERE
•Sara is a single woman in her 30s and lives by herself with her dog. She is an architecture professor at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. She also practices architecture out of her home, and usually works on 1-2 small scale commercial and residential projects at a time. Sara also leads bookmaking classes and sells beautifully crafted books she and her students make.
•Jose and Anya are a couple in their early 40s. They have two young children, 12 and 10. Jose works from home as a software designer and Anya is an attorney at a law firm uptown, walking distance from the site. The children go to a nearby school, and in their free time, love to skateboard, play soccer, paint, and walk their dog.
•Patrick and Marcus are recent graduates from the University of North Carolina Charlotte. They both graduated with marketing and business degrees, and have launched a new business as web designers. They typically meet with clients at their office to discuss website design goals. Because they work from home, they like to walk uptown after work for dinner or a show.
•Patti and Fred recently retired and moved to Charlotte from Detroit, Michigan. They are in their mid 60s. Fred is a musician, and Patti is a writer. Fred often writes songs for his band at home during the day, and has multiple gigs a week in and around uptown. His band also plays at the Farmer’s Market on weekends. Patti spends much of her time writing in coffee shops uptown, or at home from her desk, which she likes to position under a window with a beautiful view.
Section Two
Jury
JURORS
Jury Chair Frank Harmon, FAIA . Frank Harmon Architect . www.frankharmon.com
Frank Harmon has designed sustainable modern buildings across the Southeast for 30 years. He is recognized as a purveyor of good design by his students, piers, and clients. In 2013, he received the F. Carter Williams Gold Metal from the AIA North Carolina chapter – the highest honor bestowed upon a North Carolina architect. He holds numerous awards recognizing his contributions to design and sustainability.
Jonathan Segal, FAIA . Jonathan Segal FAIA & Development Company . www.jonathansegalarchitect.com
Jonathan Segal FAIA & Development Company is a pioneering residential architectural/development company that has been awarded over 24 AIA design awards including six national AIA Honor Awards for their housing work. They have been responsible for the design and development of over 300 medium to high density urban residential, mixed use, and live/work units totaling over 300,000 square feet.
Roberto de Leon, FAIA . De Leon & Primmer Architecture Workshop . www.deleon-primmer.com
Roberto de Leon is a co-founder of De Leon & Primmer Architecture Workshop. DPAW was chosen for the 2010 Design Vanguard by Architectural Record as well as the 2011 Emerging Voices by the Architectural League of New York. They have received two national AIA Honor Awards, and their work was been featured in the 2012 and 2014 Istanbul Biennial, and most recently in the 2015 Chicago Architecture Biennial.
Julie Snow, FAIA . Snow Kreilich Architects . www.snowkreilich.com
Julie Snow has garnered national recognition as both a practitioner and academic. She has been recognized with numerous awards including AIA Honor Awards, the Holcim North American Bronze Award, Progressive Architecture Design Award, the Chicago Athenaeum’s American, Architect Magazine Annual Design Review, and several US General Services Administration Design Excellence Awards.
Michael Williams, AIA . Liquid Design . www.liquiddesign.net
Michael Williams was named one of the year’s “40 under 40” by Building Design and Construction Magazine. He is co-founder and President of Liquid Design, a green, award winning “total package” design firm in Charlotte, NC. The firm specializes in building design, space planning, interior design, and project management. Michael has been a keynote speaker at many workshops and symposiums throughout the nation about the work of his firm.
JUDGING CRITERIA
Neighborhood
Designs should enforce a sense of connection to the urban fabric and surrounding neighborhoods. This site is a hinge between commercial and residential areas. The project should create links between these two parts of the city.
Climate
Charlotte is located in a temperate environment with hot, humid summers and relatively mild winters. You are encouraged to take advantage of the exceptionally fine weather in spring and fall.
Space, Form, and Materials
We encourage you to explore the site and program to arrive at a solution that emphasizes space, form, composition, and the inherent qualities of materials to reinforce the physical and sensual qualities of the materials you use.
Section Three
About the Competition
WHO CAN ENTER
The competition is open internationally to all students in a certified architectural program, un-licensed design professionals, and licensed Architects. Individuals or teams may submit more than one entry, but each entry will receive separate ID numbers and require an additional entry fee.
AWARDS
Top prize *$3,000
Merit award(s) *$1,000
* exact amounts based on sponsorship and number of submissions
SCHEDULE
Announced February 10, 2016
Registration Opens February 24, 2016
Registration Closes April 27, 2016
Submission Deadline May 2, 2016
Jury Deliberates May 2016
Announcement of Winner May 2016
Exhibition statewide mobile exhibit through the remainder of the year
Section Four
Submission Requirements
1. Registration
To register online, go to https://aiancawards.secure-platform.com/a and complete the process. The registration fee is $50 (USD). Multiple entries will require a registration fee with each. You will need to give your project a title in this step. This title must be unique and anonymous. It must not contain any description of yourself or any firm or company information.
2. Application
Once you have registered and submitted your registration fee, you will be sent a link to complete the rest of the submission process online.
3. Project Description
No more than 250 words. Contestants should read judging criteria, and use this written portion to portray how their design is sensitive to the surrounding areas and facilitates community interaction.
4. Graphics
Two 24”x36” boards (portrait orientation) as hi-res PDF. Title as [your project title]_Boards
Boards may include additional drawings and images as deemed necessary by entrant, but boards are required to include:
• Site plan oriented north up
• Site and/or building section
• One rendered exterior
• One rendered interior
• Your project title
5. Physical Model (Optional)
There are no material restrictions. Participants may submit model photographs instead of a physical model, or physical models may be delivered or mailed to:
ACTIVATE NC: Competition
14 E Peace Street, 2nd floor
Raleigh, NC North Carolina 27604
USA
Section Five
Submittal
Submit materials electronically to aiancawards.secure-platform.com by 5:00 PM EST on May 2, 2016.
Section Six
Fine Print
NOTES
•Use of firm, individual, or company names or logos on competition material or incomplete submissions may result in disqualification.
•Once the final submissions are uploaded, no additional edits, uploads, or changes can be made.
OWNERSHIP
ACTIVATE NC reserves the right to retain ownership of all competition materials to use in exhibitions or publications without compensation to the entrants. Each competitor will retain full copyright unless state otherwise. No submissions will be returned.
QUESTIONS
Competition entrants may submit questions until date March 9, 2016 to info@activatenc.org. All questions will be answered at one time and sent to registered entrants no later than March 23, 2016, and posted to www.activatenc.org/2016housingcompetition.
– Upon registering for the competition, will you provide any CAD plans or 3d models, or any other related materials, of the competition site?
Answer: The information provided in the link below (using the 4 parcel ID numbers also listed below) should provide sufficient information for the competition. Please also adhere to the setbacks provided in the competition brief.
http://polaris3g.mecklenburgcountync.gov
Address: 1510 South Mint Street Parcel ID: 11908218
Address: 1501 Wilmore Drive Parcel ID: 11908220
Address: 1511 Wilmore Drive Parcel ID: 11908221
Address: 1538 South Mint Street Parcel ID: 11908207
– Under Site & Program, there is a requirement that “Existing buildings on site and existing street parking will remain”. The property map indicates that there are 4 one-story buildings at 1510 S MINT ST and a two-story industrial building at 1538 S MINT ST. Is it acceptable to propose any adaptive re-use or use type changes for these buildings? Is it acceptable to build on top of these buildings? Is it acceptable to assume that 1 story = 10’-0” floor-to-floor height? Also, does the “10’-0” setbacks next to business areas” apply to both of these properties?
Answer: Existing buildings on site will NOT remain, but existing street parking will.
– In general, it is allowable to modify any existing on-site easements (fire lanes, ect.)?
Answer: Yes.
– I see the large brick building on lot 11908207 currently appears to provide automotive wrecking service, which requires access at the front and rear of the building and access to the entire lot to function. Is the program of this building changing, if so what will the new program be or will the program be left up to the design team to create?
Answer: Existing buildings on site will NOT remain, so this should not be an issue.
– The corner lot 11908218 I understand there are private businesses and the restaurant space which appears to be available. Are these functions to remain the same?
Answer: Existing buildings on site will NOT remain, so this should not be an issue.
– Are we permitted to modify the facades of all of the buildings?
Answer: Existing buildings on site will NOT remain, so this should not be an issue.
– Can you please let us know if there is any building height restriction for the project?
Answer: Maximum building height will be 55’-0”.
– Number of parking spaces – one per unit, or one per habitable room within the unit?
Answer: One parking space per unit containing bedroom(s).
– Will any dimensioned site information be provided (or must we rely on retrieving tax maps, scaling, etc.)?
Answer: The information provided in the link below (using the 4 parcel ID numbers also listed below) should provide sufficient information for the competition. Please also adhere to the setbacks provided in the competition brief.
http://polaris3g.mecklenburgcountync.gov
Address: 1510 South Mint Street Parcel ID: 11908218
Address: 1501 Wilmore Drive Parcel ID: 11908220
Address: 1511 Wilmore Drive Parcel ID: 11908221
Address: 1538 South Mint Street Parcel ID: 11908207
– Is there any topographic data via survey or other map to be provided or otherwise available?
Answer: The information provided in the link below (using the 4 parcel ID numbers also listed below) should provide sufficient information for the competition. Please also adhere to the setbacks provided in the competition brief.
http://polaris3g.mecklenburgcountync.gov
Address: 1510 South Mint Street Parcel ID: 11908218
Address: 1501 Wilmore Drive Parcel ID: 11908220
Address: 1511 Wilmore Drive Parcel ID: 11908221
Address: 1538 South Mint Street Parcel ID: 11908207
– Is the site plan available in a CAD Format?
Answer: The information provided in the link below (using the 4 parcel ID numbers also listed below) should provide sufficient information for the competition. Please also adhere to the setbacks provided in the competition brief.
http://polaris3g.mecklenburgcountync.gov
Address: 1510 South Mint Street Parcel ID: 11908218
Address: 1501 Wilmore Drive Parcel ID: 11908220
Address: 1511 Wilmore Drive Parcel ID: 11908221
Address: 1538 South Mint Street Parcel ID: 11908207
– What is the maximum FAR for the site?
Answer: 70% FAR
– The Mecklenburg County GIS link does not work. Is there any other resource to get this information?
Answer: Mecklenburg County apologizes for the inconvenience. On occasion, the GIS is down. Please try again. The link has been tested multiple times upon receipt of this question, and the GIS appears to be up and running. Again, apologies for the inconvenience.
– Is it clear that ownership is not an issue (in other words whether the units are owned vs. rented and internal lot lines are not a consideration)?
Answer: Ownership is not an issue, so internal lot lines need not be considered.
– Will zoning be a consideration (building heights or any other City of Charlotte requirements not noted in the brief)?
Answer: City of Charlotte zoning does not need to be considered, but 55’-0” should be the maximum building height.
– Clarify the existing buildings can be removed from the site. An earlier brief mentioned they must stay.
Answer: Existing buildings on site will NOT remain.
– Naming the project name submission before the design is complete is like titling a book before you write it
Answer: Your comment is duly noted. We apologize for the inconvenience.
– Will there be a list of honorable mentions for this competition? I see that there are monetary awards, but I really enjoy competitions that have unpaid honorable mentions as well. There are more opportunities for recognition.
Answer: Awarding honorable mentions will be up to the jury, but typically, they are awarded.
– The question involves the zoning for the properties. I see three different designations, and was wondering which to go with. My reason for asking has to do with height restrictions. I’ll also look to see if there is a future master plan for Charlotte that might have heights covered.
Answer: City of Charlotte zoning does not need to be considered, but 55’-0” should be the maximum building height.
– I just registered for the Urban Housing competition and was just wondering if there might be a documents package including the Site Survey information for the Project Site? I know that the lots have been specified and we can get a general sense of the site that way, just wondering if we need any more specific info?
Answer: The information provided in the link below (using the 4 parcel ID numbers also listed below) should provide sufficient information for the competition. Please also adhere to the setbacks provided in the competition brief.
http://polaris3g.mecklenburgcountync.gov
Address: 1510 South Mint Street Parcel ID: 11908218
Address: 1501 Wilmore Drive Parcel ID: 11908220
Address: 1511 Wilmore Drive Parcel ID: 11908221
Address: 1538 South Mint Street Parcel ID: 11908207