2024 NATIONAL DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION COMPETITION
HIGHWAY INTERCHANGE
The key objective of this challenge is to identify a heavily congested and/or overwhelmed highway or road exchange that needs reimagination, reconfiguration, and redevelopment. Consider an interchange that is problematic, has lots of congestion, long delays, unsafe merging, needs more on/off ramps, etc. Consider mixed uses or passageways for transit, pedestrians, and of course vehicle traffic. Teams must reconfigure the area for greater efficiency, volume, and safety while considering water run-off, recycling materials as much as possible, and a detailed construction schedule / phased building plan to ensure minimal interruption to traffic and the surrounding communities. To succeed the team should consider all the elements in such a project, from site selection to construction materials, methods, timelines, and budgets, etc.
The team entries must demonstrate: (1) the precise aspects of your site selection, (2) how use of materials and construction solutions address the challenge, (3) balance of functionality and design to achieve the project goals, and (4) provide a cost estimate (per foot) to accomplish the needs in
a realistic and doable way consistent with the resources/financial support likely available in the locale. [The proposal MUST also include the precise CONSTRUCTION timeline, steps, stages, and remedies for this challenge, with any demolition or other pre-retrofit work described and detailed].
TIMELINE
There are two rounds of judging in the Competition. The Preliminary Round involves an online review of all submissions. The Final Round will be held in conjunction with the CIRT Spring National Conference in Washington, DC. Teams from ACE Affiliates/Chapters that wish to participate in the national competition must comply with the following time schedule:
January 2024 | REGISTRATION OPENS
March 14, 2024 | SUBMISSION DEADLINE
All registrations and final entries must be officially submitted and complete by midnight in your time zone on Thursday, March 14.
March 25, 2024 | PRELIMINARY RESULTS ANNOUNCED
A preliminary jury round will determine the Finalists and Runners-Up in each challenge. Finalists are notified and plans made to bring a representative(s) from each team to Washington, DC.
April 8, 2024 | FINALIST HOTEL RESERVATION DUE
Finalist teams will need to have made their hotel reservations in DC. Finalists will be provided precise hotel/logistical information upon being selected. The stipend will be available for each team to be used to help cover cost to attend the final round based on need, etc. from the requests of the teams.
April 29, 2024 | FINALIST PRESENTATIONS
Finalists present to the CIRT Panel of Judges. Exact information on time and place will be provided.
DESIGN PROCESS
The following questions are representative of the type of information that would be expected along with the design concepts, renderings, etc. (Please note: Jurors will consider the summaries of your replies to these questions when presented as part of your “virtual board” entry.)
Question A: Define and/or describe the problems/challenges you faced when deciding on the project you chose to do for the competition.
Question B: Thoroughly describe your process, in writing and through visuals (e.g., sketches, renderings, stepped process, before and after, budgets, timelines, workflow, etc.) that specifically and realistically meets the PRECISE or exact nature of the challenge and/or the client goals/needs.
Question C: Explain how your approach is an appropriate, innovative solution that realistically responds to the precise project challenges (including use of materials/construction methods, etc.). Explain how your entry is different from other approaches or processes, if such is the case; and/or meets budgetary constraints, timeline issues, or other construction challenges.
Question D: Describe any social/ecological or otherwise beneficial qualities of your solution. (For example, is it universally applicable? Is it environmentally friendly? Does it use cost-effective or recyclable materials? Etc.?)
Question E: Describe what you learned from this competition.
EVALUATION CRITERIA:
DESIGN ASPECTS/CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS
The following design/construction aspects will be evaluation criteria, and should be explained where appropriate:
¨ site selection and its context (built and/or natural) – before and after
¨ constructability (structural challenges, materials, schedules, textures, colors, etc.)
¨ strategy for sustainability (resulting from design and construction decisions)
¨ surrounding landscape/external spaces, etc.
¨ life and activities, in and around the building, including the qualities of enclosed spaces showing furniture, fittings and finishes (where needed or appropriate to the design competition selected).
