Saturday 22 November 2008

Woburn Public Library Expansion "Ideas" Competition

Woburn Public Library Expansion "Ideas" Competition






The Challenge
  • How would you provide 25,000 square feet of additional space for the library and the services required in the 21st century?
  • How does this additional space impact and/or relate to the original building?
  • What improvements can be made to the site and surrounding areas to reinforce the library's critical role as the "center" of town and source of local pride?
Intent

The intent of this "Ideas" competition is to:

  • Broaden the field of ideas through bold clear concepts (similar to a sketch problem charrette) for the restoration and expansion of the library building
  • Point out the complexities and opportunities that are inherent when adding on to an historically and aesthetically significant building by a renowned architect of the 19th century
  • To raise the awareness of this beautiful piece of architecture for the people of Woburn and others
Who Can Apply?

Any interested party

NOTE

This is an IDEAS competition only. The winner of this competition does not get the commission for the actual project. These ideas are to be shown to the selected architect that will be chosen through a standard public selection process. The competition entries become the property of the Woburn Public Library on submittal.

Entry Specifications
(see Application Package at the competition website for specific details)
  • Each entry will include 3 presentation boards
  • The entries are to be delivered to the Woburn Public Library, 45 Pleasant Street, Woburn, MA 01801 no later than 5:00pm, Friday January 23rd, 2009.
Awards and Exhibits
  • Awards:
    • First Place Award is $2500
    • Second Place Award is $1500
    • Third Place Award is $500
  • Awards reception date to be determined
  • Select entries will be exhibited at Pink Comma Gallery (www.pinkcomma.com) and the Woburn Public Library (www.woburnpubliclibrary.org). Dates to be determined.
Jury

Sherida E. Paulsen, FAIA
(Principal, PKSB Architects; President 2009, AIA New York Chapter; Former Chair, New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission)

Preston Scott Cohen, AIA
(Principal, Preston Scott Cohen, Inc.; Chair, Department of Architecture, Harvard University Graduate School of Design)

Amanda Lawrence
(Principal, PRAXIS)

Jessica Pineo Lohnes, AICP
(Principal, FOLLIES)

Gretchen Von Grossmann, AIA, AICP, LEED AP
(Principal, Von Grossmann & Company)

Competition website : http://www.woburnpubliclibrarycompetition.com/index.php

2 comments:

buildingLover said...

I really hope that the competition is fair...from the requirements ..entrant has to write their name on it ..usually in a fair and transparent procedure, it is usually sealed in an envelope where all the jurors will not get to see who the submission was from... after the winner were determined. I was shocked to see that the judging and announcement were stated a week after the closing date...It will be very bad for all other people not in the US to do all the work and submission boards not making it for the judging...since there were no statement that the submissions has to arrive at a specific time for judging except for the postmarked date....I'm eager and waiting to see the winner's design ideas...and hope that they are all out of the box as what they have encourage all to explore..but all in all good job to all the entrants.
_BuildingLover_

arch said...

They announced at the presentation ceremony that the winner was a former student of Preston Cohen's! Why did the competition require the entrants name to be printed on the back of the boards. They should have been sealed in an envelope attached to the back of the boards or used a code number system as is typical in most if not all competitions. I smell a rat. Where there any conversations between Cohen and the winner in the last few months?