Roanoke, Va. (November 19, 2008) – Winning entries for Roanoke Urban Effect 2008, an international design competition focused on Roanoke, Va., were announced on November 15 at an awards celebration and reception held at Center in the Square. Forty-six entries were submitted from around the world, with seven winners announced. The two top prizes were awarded locally.
To read more about the Roanoke Urban Effect 2008 Design Competition, please click here >>
The CAF (Team) – Urban Design
San Diego, Ca., New Orleans, La., London, UK pdf file (15.9 mb) >>
The competition received broad international interest, from countries including South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and South Africa. Organized by local young professionals affiliated with the Blue Ridge American Institute of Architects' Young Architects Forum (YAF), Roanoke Urban Effect 2008 is the first of its kind for the region and an example of passionate young professionals being proactive to help promote and improve the city of Roanoke.
The entries were judged by a four-person jury comprised of some of the country's top minds in architecture and urban planning. Competition was divided into three categories - Buildings, Urban Design, and Urban Planning – and focused on three areas within the Jefferson Street Corridor, an area that has been identified by Roanoke City for proposed redevelopment.
Although no plans exist at this point to build or profit from the designs, Nicole Hall, co-chair for Roanoke Urban Effect believes the success of this year's contest will open new discussions about the city's future. "It was great to see all of the innovative ideas presented. We really have an opportunity to start a dialog in our community about how such ideas can benefit the region and propel us forward to be a truly unique and sustainable City."
The top two award recipients leveraged a local perspective on the city’s history and needs of the community.
Harper's building proposal provides a permanent landmark home for the Roanoke Weiner Stand adjacent to the new Taubman Art Museum. Capturing the City's historic use of iconic signs such as H&C Coffee and Dr. Pepper, the proposed building features a new skyline icon – a 68-foot Coca-Cola LED display sign visible from Williamson Road and I-581.
Clark Nexsen's team effort sought to improve connectivity along the entire Jefferson Street Corridor, making the area a walkable community through a series of pedestrian trails, greenways, and community gathering spaces.
Other submissions suggested a way to bridge Roanoke's east and west neighborhoods with a connecting pedestrian and bike path over I-581 or development of a water and intersection themed community gathering point at The Crossing with waterfalls, ice skating rinks, swimming pools, relaxation gardens, and playgrounds.
"It was impressive how the ideas presented captured the essence of the city of Roanoke," says Josephine Villacreces, contest co-chair. "Participants not only performed a thorough study of the fabric of the city but also proposed concepts that celebrated some of its most important, but sometimes unnoticed, features."
The winning entries will be on public display at Center in the Square through Friday, December 5.
