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Call for Entries
Excellence in Universal Design
Great Places Fit for People

Update: The submittal form is now available.

The information on this web page is also available in the following formats:

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Overview

This is a new design awards program sponsored by Adaptive Environments, Inc., an educational nonprofit organization, in collaboration with the Boston Society of Architects and the AIA New York Chapter. This program is a celebration of Adaptive Environments’ 25th anniversary.

Adaptive Environments was the first non-profit organization in the US whose mission centered on design in relation to ability and age. Two convictions underlie its work:

  1. Design is powerful and intrinsically social; it influences our relationship to the world and our sense of self.

  2. Variation in human abilities is ordinary, not rare or unusual, and affects most of us for some portion of our lives. Adaptive Environments has established an international reputation as a resource for information about accessibility and as a leader in universal design. Universal design is a human-centered framework for solving design problems so that the results are usable by the widest possible range of people in the widest range of situations without adaptation or separate solutions.

Criterion

This 2003 Awards Program will recognize design that exemplifies a commitment to making places that work for the ordinary realities of being human. Winning projects will demonstrate excellence in fit — a balance between design and user experience. Particular consideration will be given to projects that demonstrate attention to the aspects of the built environment that reflect the principles of universal design, that anticipate human needs (e.g., indoor air quality, lighting, acoustics, navigation) and that both integrate and exceed minimal US accessibility requirements.

For more information about universal design, visit: www.AdaptiveEnvironments.org/universal/index.php

Jury

  • Rebecca Barnes FAIA; Chief Planner, City of Boston
  • Edward Frenette AIA; Director or Design and Principal, Symmes Maini & McKee Associates, Boston
  • Brad Grant AIA; President, ACSA; Chairperson and Professor of Architecture, Hampton University, Virginia
  • Linda N. Keane, Chair, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
  • Ray Lifchez, Professor of Architecture, University of California Berkeley; sponsor of The Berkeley Undergraduate Prize for Architectural Design Excellence
  • Monica Ponce de Leon, Principal, Office dA; Winner, Harleston Parker Medal, 2002
  • Peter Slatin, The Slatin Report; former editor-in-chief of GRID
  • Stephen Spinetto, Disability Commissioner, City of Boston
  • Leslie Kanes Weisman Assoc. AIA, Professor of Architecture, New Jersey Institute of Technology
  • Polly Welch, Architect & Editor, Strategies for Teaching Universal Design
  • Jury Liaison: Sally Levine AIA; Adaptive Environments Board of Directors

Eligibility

Built projects anywhere in the world completed after December 31, 1991 and designed by any design professional anywhere in the world. Submittals may be made by clients (owners and/or users), architects, designers, organizations, public agencies, others. There is no limit to the number of submittals.

Jurors and their firms and Adaptive Environments’ employees and board members are not eligible for this.

Categories

Applicants must choose one of the following categories for each submittal:

  • Public buildings (new construction) – federal, state or local government buildings or facilities including but not limited to public schools, libraries, civic buildings, courts.
  • Public buildings (renovation or addition) – federal, state or local government buildings or facilities including but not limited to public schools, libraries, civic buildings, courts.
  • Places of public accommodation and commercial facilities (new construction)*
  • Places of public accommodation and commercial facilities (renovation or addition)*
  • Residential (new construction)
  • Residential (renovation)
  • Urban public space – urban public realms, parks, playgrounds, plazas
  • Historic buildings – renovation of historic properties (either rehabilitation or adaptive re-use)

*includes religious buildings

Submittal Requirements

  • Annotated Project Narrative (10 copies):
    An annotated narrative with project images (preferably the same as those used on the presentation boards described below); no more than five pages (no less than 10 pt. font) that provide a synopsis of the scope of work and clearly describes how this project meets the criteria of the awards program. The award category must be listed on the top right corner. DO NOT INCLUDE THE NAME OF THE FIRM, DESIGNERS, CLIENT, OR PROJECT.

  • User Statement (10 copies):
    One or more single-page, post-occupancy statement by a user(s) or client(s) describing why the design works and fits the criteria. The award category must be listed in the top right corner.

  • One 30"x30" Presentation Board:
    The board must provide sufficient information to tell the story of the design development and results. The presentation board may include before and after photos, floor plans, elevations, sections, drawings, final images, depictions of users, and any information that illustrates the process and outcome of a place fit for people.

  • Submittal Form:
    A completed submittal form in a sealed envelope must be taped to the back of the presentation board. Submittal forms are available at www.AdaptiveEnvironments.org/newsevents/awards_form.doc or call: 617-695-1225 Voice/TTY to request a faxed or mailed form.

  • Entry Fee $65 ($50 for AIA NY and BSA members):
    If you are submitting more than one project, you must include a separate submittal form and fee payment with each submission. A check made payable to Adaptive Environments must accompany the submittal form.

Please note that every entrant must agree to a site visit by a juror or a representative designated by the jury. The jury also reserves the right to request further information, slides or a CD-ROM to supplement the information on the presentation board.

Submittal Deadline

All submissions must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 30, 2003 at:

Adaptive Environments
374 Congress Street, Suite 301
Boston, Massachusetts 02210

NOTE: All submittals become the property of Adaptive Environments and will not be returned. Please note that the winning submittals and jury comments may be posted in their entirety on the Adaptive Environments’ Web site.

Schedule

May 30, 2003 — submittals due

June 30, 2003 — initial jury review completed

July 1 – September 30, 2003 — site visits to review finalists

November 18, 2003 — winners announced and awards presented at Build Boston, the Boston Society of Architects’ annual building industry convention and trade show at the World Trade Center Boston. (Details to follow.)

Recognition

Projects will be recognized in each category at the discretion of the jury. There may be awards of excellence and honorable mentions in each category. Winning projects may be displayed in Boston at Build Boston 2003 in the Gallery and in early 2004 at the AIA New York Chapter’s new Center for Architecture. Additional media opportunities are being pursued. Adaptive Environments may showcase winning submittals on its Web site along with jury comments.

Questions

Contact Adaptive Environments at (617) 695-1225 V/TTY or email Valerie Fletcher, Executive Director vfletcher@AdaptiveEnvironments.org and/or Sally Levine AIA, Jury Liaison slevine@AdaptiveEnvironments.org.

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