Washington Monument competition opens registration
September/02/2010 03:36 PM Filed in: Washington Monument Competition | Washington Post
Dear Coalition Friends:
Today's UPDATE includes the formal Press Release announcing open registration for the Washington Monument ideas competition as well as an article about the competition in today's Washington Post.
September 1, 2010 Washington, DC – Individuals 12 or older with an idea for making the Washington Monument grounds more welcoming, educational, and better used by the public can now register for the National Ideas Competition for the Washington Monument Grounds. Registration must be done online by October 31st at www.wamocompetition.org.
“We’ve heard from people all over the country excited about the Competition so we’re expecting a flood of registrations especially now that schools and universities are back in session,” said architect James Clark who chairs the Steering Committee for the Competition.
The competition, Clark said, is about ideas, and they don't have to be just design ideas, so professionals won’t have an advantage. “It has something for everyone – art, architecture, landscape architecture, history, civics, geography, ecology, environmental science, even engineering.”
The idea for the competition came out of a realization by local historians and designers that past designs for the Monument grounds were never realized and maybe are no longer the best solution for the American people. The aim is to spark a lively national conversation about the monument, George Washington, American history, founding ideals, and the importance of this 60-acre symbolic public open space in the heart of the capital.
The Competition website includes further information about the program, registration, and educational materials. The “Resources” page has been developed to help people learn more about the Monument. It includes a short history video, historic maps and views, the latest FEMA flood map, aerial views, and engineering studies.
Among intriguing historical facts is an explanation of why the Monument grounds were never completed. Few people realize that the Washington Monument was built on the banks of the Potomac River and that the land around it is fill. Historically, this has caused concern that cutting into the soil for new construction could undermine the Monument’s foundation, which is not built to bedrock. Clark says that while this condition might inspire some Competition entries to take on the problem, it will not be a factor for the jury evaluating ideas.
Entries are welcome from individuals or teams of up to 10 people. The cost per entry is $25 for individuals or teams 18 and older and $10 for under 18.
For more information, go to www.wamocompetition.org
By Jacqueline Trescott
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 2, 2010; C05
A local group that says the Washington Monument grounds are too barren and devoid of information about George Washington is sponsoring a contest to encourage ways to improve the public space.
The National Ideas Competition for the Washington Monument Grounds, or WAMO, kicked off registration Wednesday for anyone interested in submitting an idea.
"For a long time, the people who care about the area around the monument have said the grounds are unfinished," said Ellen Goldstein, a former lobbyist and member of the WAMO steering committee, which is made up of volunteers.
The ideas for the 60-acre esplanade could encompass architecture, engineering, landscaping, history and design, Goldstein said. The competition is open to anyone 12 years and older, but she said the group's outreach is focused on middle school, high school and college students. Registration is open until Oct. 31, and all ideas must be submitted to http://wamocompetition.org by Dec. 18. "All submissions are electronic, and we want just enough to give the jurors enough to look at," Goldstein said. The jury will pick 25 semifinalists, each of whom will be awarded $100, and the final submissions will be put to a public vote.
The committee doesn't profess to have any sway over the various governing bodies that have jurisdiction over the Mall. Several plans to improve the appearance of the entire Mall are under study. The National Park Service, which implemented security measures around the Washington Monument after Sept. 11, 2001, and the Army Corps of Engineers are two of the public agencies with plans.
"Rather than take on the whole Mall, we thought we would ask the public for ideas, not just about design, but ideas for how you would like to see it used," Goldstein said.
The steering committee includes architect James P. Clark and Judy Scott Feldman, the president of the National Coalition to Save our Mall, an active citizen groups on the entire space.
Today's UPDATE includes the formal Press Release announcing open registration for the Washington Monument ideas competition as well as an article about the competition in today's Washington Post.
* * *
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ellen Goldstein 202-253-5694 or James Clark 703-524-6616
National Ideas Competition for the Washington Monument Grounds
Washington Monument Competition Opens Registration
September 1, 2010 Washington, DC – Individuals 12 or older with an idea for making the Washington Monument grounds more welcoming, educational, and better used by the public can now register for the National Ideas Competition for the Washington Monument Grounds. Registration must be done online by October 31st at www.wamocompetition.org.
“We’ve heard from people all over the country excited about the Competition so we’re expecting a flood of registrations especially now that schools and universities are back in session,” said architect James Clark who chairs the Steering Committee for the Competition.
The competition, Clark said, is about ideas, and they don't have to be just design ideas, so professionals won’t have an advantage. “It has something for everyone – art, architecture, landscape architecture, history, civics, geography, ecology, environmental science, even engineering.”
The idea for the competition came out of a realization by local historians and designers that past designs for the Monument grounds were never realized and maybe are no longer the best solution for the American people. The aim is to spark a lively national conversation about the monument, George Washington, American history, founding ideals, and the importance of this 60-acre symbolic public open space in the heart of the capital.
The Competition website includes further information about the program, registration, and educational materials. The “Resources” page has been developed to help people learn more about the Monument. It includes a short history video, historic maps and views, the latest FEMA flood map, aerial views, and engineering studies.
Among intriguing historical facts is an explanation of why the Monument grounds were never completed. Few people realize that the Washington Monument was built on the banks of the Potomac River and that the land around it is fill. Historically, this has caused concern that cutting into the soil for new construction could undermine the Monument’s foundation, which is not built to bedrock. Clark says that while this condition might inspire some Competition entries to take on the problem, it will not be a factor for the jury evaluating ideas.
Entries are welcome from individuals or teams of up to 10 people. The cost per entry is $25 for individuals or teams 18 and older and $10 for under 18.
For more information, go to www.wamocompetition.org
# # #
THE WASHINGTON POST
Ideas sought to improve Washington Monument grounds
By Jacqueline Trescott
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 2, 2010; C05
A local group that says the Washington Monument grounds are too barren and devoid of information about George Washington is sponsoring a contest to encourage ways to improve the public space.
The National Ideas Competition for the Washington Monument Grounds, or WAMO, kicked off registration Wednesday for anyone interested in submitting an idea.
"For a long time, the people who care about the area around the monument have said the grounds are unfinished," said Ellen Goldstein, a former lobbyist and member of the WAMO steering committee, which is made up of volunteers.
The ideas for the 60-acre esplanade could encompass architecture, engineering, landscaping, history and design, Goldstein said. The competition is open to anyone 12 years and older, but she said the group's outreach is focused on middle school, high school and college students. Registration is open until Oct. 31, and all ideas must be submitted to http://wamocompetition.org by Dec. 18. "All submissions are electronic, and we want just enough to give the jurors enough to look at," Goldstein said. The jury will pick 25 semifinalists, each of whom will be awarded $100, and the final submissions will be put to a public vote.
The committee doesn't profess to have any sway over the various governing bodies that have jurisdiction over the Mall. Several plans to improve the appearance of the entire Mall are under study. The National Park Service, which implemented security measures around the Washington Monument after Sept. 11, 2001, and the Army Corps of Engineers are two of the public agencies with plans.
"Rather than take on the whole Mall, we thought we would ask the public for ideas, not just about design, but ideas for how you would like to see it used," Goldstein said.
The steering committee includes architect James P. Clark and Judy Scott Feldman, the president of the National Coalition to Save our Mall, an active citizen groups on the entire space.