Brief

HB:BX is an open international ideas competition to design an arts center that culturally reinforces the physical connection between the Manhattan and Bronx Highbridge communities of New York City. This competition is hosted by the Emerging New York Architects Committee (ENYA), AIA New York Chapter, in cooperation with Artists Unite and the Bronx Museum of the Arts, and it is meant to draw awareness to the current efforts to restore and reopen the bridge. This competition is a forum to explore the urban and community improvement that may come with the achievement of such a momentous milestone. Thus, ENYA challenges emerging architects and designers to explore how disused historic structures can be reprogrammed into vibrant urban centers. Competition entrants are also challenged to rethink the relationship between infrastructure (aqueduct, railway, highway) and it's urban context. These architectural issues, universally relevant to any growing city, take on a more site-specific nature when considering the historic importance of the High Bridge and the topographic challenge posed by the steep riverbanks of the Harlem River. Also grounding this competition to itslocal context are the unique clients who ask the entrants to reconsider architecture's role in the creation, displaying of and experience of art. The competition expects entrants to use the program as a connector to bridge the ideological gap between such two different arts organizations as Artists Unite and the Bronx Museum of the Arts with the local residents.

Another one of ENYA's objectives is to generate a discourse about universal urban issues that are currently relevant in New York City. The competition is designed to generate a spectrum of possible solutions. To achieve this goal, entries will be judged upon the following loose criteria:

• -Does the entry attempt the unexpected and redefine boundaries?
• -Is implementation of the program and fulfillment of the programmatic and site objectives evident in the building form?
• -Does the proposal maximize the unique setting and location of the site?

ENYA Competition Objectives

The formalized goals for the HB:BX program include:

Providing emerging designers with the opportunity to explore their own design sensibilities while tackling complex urban challenges. Provoking continued political and/or architectural discourse. Filling a void within the community by working with authentic organizations and impacting the community in a positive way to inspire momentum for community activism. Attracting the interest of a wide range of individuals (not just those within the architectural profession) on a local and international level.

Schedule 

09-10-09 Competition Launch Reception at Trespa Design Center

10-10-09 Open House New York Site Tour

10-11-09 Open House New York Site Tour

11-01-09 Jurors Announced

11-15-09 Early Registration Deadline

12-15-09 Late Registration Deadline

01-15-10 Submission Deadline

Feb. 2010 Jury Day

March 2010 Winners Announced

Fall 2010 Exhibition Opening at the Center for Architecture

How To Register

Registration will be conducted by ACTEVA, a secure online registration agency. All major credit cards are accepted. Checks will also be processed through ACTEVA by mail. Once registered, you will be sent a confirmation e-mail with notification of how to access the website to download supplemental information. When registering for a team or group, you must add all team members' names to the confirmation e-mail attached to your submission. You should not register each member separately with ACTEVA.

Click here to register.

Fees

$35 STUDENT ENTRY (individual only)

$65 INDIVIDUAL ENTRY

$110 SMALL TEAM ENTRY (2-4 members; includes teams of students)

$300 LARGE TEAM ENTRY (5 members or more; includes teams of students)

$5 Late Registration (Applies to all who register after Nov. 15, 2009)

$35 Academic Fee (Only applies to professors using competition content for studio course. Students will need to register individually or as teams if they wish to compete.)

Eligibility

The competition is open to all design students and emerging professionals, including, but not limited to, architects, artists, engineers, landscape architects, urban designers, and planners who have completed their education at the undergraduate or graduate level within the past 10 years of the competition announcement (September 10, 2009).

The participants may be licensed individuals within their respective professions. To register as a student and be eligible for the student prize, you must be enrolled at a school, college, or university at the time of the competition announcement (September 10, 2009). Offices or companies may register as long as every employee (full-time or part-time) meets the eligibility requirements.

The number of participants on the team will dictate the level of fee required. All members of a Team or Group must meet the eligibility requirements.

Requirements

- Submit a single 30"x40" (76.2cm x 101.6cm) presentation board, oriented horizontally. The board should be 1/4" thickness with no more than a 1/4" protrusion.

- Clearly label the back of the board in the upper right hand corner with the ACTEVA transaction number received in the confirmation e-mail.-Include a half-size digital version of the entry burned on a compact disk clearly labeled with the registration number only. All digital files must be 15" x 20" (38.1cm x 50.8cm) in a .jpg format, 300dpi.

- Include an opaque envelope securely affixed to the back of the board containing a copy of the registration confirmation e-mail and the compact disk. Add all team members' names to the confirmation e-mail. If the number of team members exceeds the registration fee, the submission will be automatically disqualified. Label the outside of the envelope with the participant's registration number only.

- Any information on the front of the presentation board identifying the participant in any way will automatically disqualify the submission. This includes, but is not limited to, registration number, name, logo, address, water mark, etc.

- Only one entry submission accepted per registration number.

- Only one board accepted per entry submission.

- If you are eligible for the student prize, please mark the back of the board with an "S", approx. 2" (5.08cm) in height, in the left-hand, bottom corner. Also, mark the "S" on the envelope attached to the board. (For teams to be eligible for the student prize, all members of the team must fit the eligibility requirements).

Click here to view diagram of proper board layout.

Send Submissions to:

• High Bridge Bronx
• Competition Center for Architecture
• 536 LaGuardia Place
• New York, NY, 10012

Submittals will be accepted at the Center for Architecture on or after December 17, 2009.

Submittals received prior to December 17, 2009, will not be accepted and will automatically disqualify the submission.