Urban Design Competition - a call for ideas

The Alliance to Preserve D.A.D. and actionSpace are pleased to sponsor SAVE D.A.D.-an urban design competition for strategies and ideas which would enhance the creative energies and lives of artists and businesses in the Downtown Arts District (D.A.D.). The intent of this competition is to explore and present imaginative development alternatives to a proposed LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District) central warehouse on a 11 acre site (update) located within the artists community . This central warehouse has been envisioned as a massive 250,000 sq. ft.plus concrete tilt-up structure, operating 24 hrs each day, and would require partial or whole demolition of the historic Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe house located on eastern border of the site. Local residents have pointed out that the noise and traffic generated by such a project is incompatible within D.A.D., and would lead to certain destabilization of the community and surrounding residential and business areas.

Site Photographs

Site Map

Site Context

With a stirring view of the Downtown Los Angeles skyline, the approximate 11 acre site is defined on the north by East 3rd Street: on the south by East 4th Street bridge; on the east by Santa Fe Avenue; and on the west by Merrick Street and Traction Avenue. The site is south of the MTA plaza and Union Station, west of the L.A. River; and only a few short blocks east of Little Tokyo, the new Japanese American Museum, the Geffen MOCA and City Hall.

Spiritually and historically, the area is the origin of commerce in Los Angeles, from the early fruit groves and vineyards, to the cradle of early Los Angeles industries of soap, brick and light manufacture. The area has always welcomed a variety of immigrants from around the world. During the past few decades this multi-cultural milieu has drawn artists and others seeking space and a creative atmosphere to live. At one time considered blighted and uninhabited, today the Downtown Arts District grows as a diverse urban village. The Artists Arrive

Eligibility

This competition is open to all individuals or teams interested in urban formation; therefore architects, landscape architects, planners, artists, engineers, designers, and students are all encouraged to enter.

Submission Requirements

Plans, sections, elevations, perspective drawings, photographs, collages and any graphic representations mounted on one (1) 30" x 40" board, oriented vertically, single-sided, a maximum of 1/4" thick, and weighing no more than 32 oz. gross are acceptable. A brief project description, no longer than 100 words, should be presented on the front of the board. No identifying marks of any sort will be allowed on the board, and will be considered grounds for disqualification.

An unmarked envelope, containing the name(s), address(es) and phone number(s) of the entrant(s), should be sealed and taped to the back of the board.

Entry Fee: $20.00 US, payable with Money Order or personal check Only to: Action:Space.

Deadline for Submission

All submissions must be postmarked or hand-delivered no later than Saturday, February 20, 1999 at 5:00 PM. Any mailed submission received after February 27, 1999 will not be considered for review. Submissions should be mailed to:

Jury

The jury panel composed of recognized Los Angeles architects, urban planners, historians, social critics, artists and community representatives will determine winning finalists. Confirmed Jury Members: Kim Abeles, area resident Qathryn Brehm, Margaret Crawford, Robert Harris, John Kaliski, Michael Rotondi, Julius Shulman, Virginia Tanzmann, and Bruce Yonemoto. (Further confirmations to follow.)

Prizes

Awards totaling $1000 will be distributed among the winning finalists, as determined by the jury.

Schedule

December 1998 - Competition Materials available to the public

10 January 1999 - Meeting with area residents at the site at 2 PM

20 February 1999 - All submissions must be postmarked or hand delivered by 5 PM

1-5 March 1999 - Judging of entries

6 March 1999 - Announcement of winning entries

6-20 March 1999 - Exhibition of entries at Action:Space

The competition prospectus contains herein all the information necessary for commencement of work. This being an ideas competition, program and other items affecting design are left to the discretion of the entrant. All entries are submitted with the understanding that the Alliance to Preserve the Downtown Arts District & actionSpace do not hold ownership to the site considered, and that the competition has been established solely for the generation of alternative urban design ideas.

update
The proposed LAUSD central warehouse has been indefinitely postponed.