Submission
FORMAT
Teams wishing to be considered for the competition must submit a booklet profiling their proposed team and qualifications. At this stage, the booklet will serve in lieu of an interview or direct conversation with the selection committee. It should convey the required information clearly, compellingly, and demonstrate the team's commitment to good design.
All qualifications must be bound securely in a format no larger than 8.5" x 11" (oriented either portrait or landscape), utilizing both sides of every page (wherever possible). A high quality digital copy of the complete booklet must also be submitted on disc.
CONTENT
The Selection Committee will look for the following items, in this order:
- Letter of Interest
The letter should be a carefully considered discussion about why your team is interested in this project. You should cite relevant information about the challenges of designing affordable housing or neighborhood infill housing, based on your experience. The letter should also address the team's knowledge of technical factors such as sustainable design or innovative construction techniques. - Sketchpad
As part of the booklet, each team must submit preliminary sketches illustrating their initial thoughts about affordable housing, sustainable design, and the other issues presented in this overview. The sketchpad should feature ideas your team might explore if selected to participate in the design competition. Sketches (hand drawn, collaged, or digitally generated) and annotations should reflect the team's best thinking on the subject. The sketchbook is limited to between five and seven double-sided pages (ten to fourteen page fronts). - Team Overview
Provide a review of the team's members and their respective expertise. Team members do not need to have worked together before, but must demonstrate the ability to form a compatible, complementary partnership. - Team Composition
Multi-disciplinary teams including an architect, structural engineer, sustainability expert, and landscape architect are strongly recommended. Faculty-led student teams are also encouraged. Team descriptions should start with an overview of the firms involved (if applicable) and how the team is organized, followed by a brief resume of each of the key individuals participating on the team. Be sure to cite each person's anticipated responsibility on the project. At least one team member must be licensed to sign architectural drawings in the State of New York. - Portfolio
Present three projects from the team's body of work. You may include one un-built project, but the majority should be built. Include:- team members participating on the project and their role;
- a general description of project goals;
- the design approach or philosophy driving the project;
- any responsibilities the team had in addition to the design of the project;
- the total project cost and whether it was completed within the budget;
- any awards or peer recognition.
- Disc
The submission should include a separate disc with a high-quality digital copy of the entire booklet in either PDF or JPG format. Please identify your team on the outside of the disc.
SUBMISSION
Submit three (3) copies of the booklet and one (1) copy of the disc along with the entry fee, a check or money order for $75 payable to Syracuse University - Housing Competition, to:
Syracuse University Housing Competition
Syracuse University School of Architecture
Slocum Hall
Syracuse, New York 13244
315-443-2256
All materials must be received by 4:00 PM Eastern EST, 9/15/08. Competition organizers suggest you utilize a postal carrier that will guarantee delivery. Syracuse University will not be responsible for any submissions that arrive late or are lost or damaged in transit. Please note that we will not be able to return submissions.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Questions about the competition or the contents of the booklet to be compiled by would-be competitors should be emailed to cjones@joneskroloff.com. Key questions and answers will be posted to the competition website on a regular basis, so please log on and review the responses. Potential entrants may not approach Syracuse University, the School of Architecture, the members of the Jury or any of the sponsors with questions. Only questions fielded by the competition advisor will be deemed legitimate.
Disclaimer: This solicitation does not commit the University to enter into a contract or award any services related to this document; nor does it obligate the University to pay any costs incurred in preparation or submission of a team's qualifications or in anticipation of a contract.