AECOM is seeking submissions for their fourth annual Urban SOS competition. The theme of this year’s competition is Frontiers. They are seeking integrated design, planning, environmental restoration and engineering proposals in urban contexts worldwide, which relate to border, gateway and edge/fringe conditions.
Urban SOS is AECOM’s annual student competition. It was created to engage students in urban planning and design, architecture, landscape architecture, environmental restoration, and engineering with the issues confronting modern cities and to allow them to propose solutions that, if worthy, will be seen by established professionals in their field.
Proposals should be on urban sites currently facing chronic liveability challenges that are largely the result of a city’s location on a natural, political, cultural or economic border. Proposals should be implementable in the shortterm, as we will engage a local organization to help advance the proposed project.
All sites must be urban; that is, in, of, or pertaining to human settlement, whether formal or informal. They may be at the center of a city or at its fringes, and in all locations that may exist between these conditions.
Sites must be real places and geographically identified with a Google Earth or Google Maps reference. Site selection is open to any country or territory in the world.
Each of the three finalist teams will receive an honorarium to contribute to travel expenses related to visiting Shanghai to present the team’s submission. The finalist honoraria are to contribute to expenses related to attendance and presentation in Shanghai only and cannot be exchanged for other prizes. In addition, each team will receive US$500 to contribute to additional costs. No other costs or fees will be covered by AECOM or the sponsors. The winning team (or teams) will receive a cash prize. The total prize money is valued at US$15.000, which may be divided amongst one or more winning teams.
A further US$25.000 in cash and inkind staff hours will be donated by AECOM to a charitable or humanitarian organization or related agency to help further develop the winning proposal.
Application Details:
- The competition is open as of April 16, 2012, to students worldwide.
- Students may work as individuals or in teams of up to four.
- The deadline for final submissions is August 31, and pre-registration must occur by that deadline any time prior to the final submission.
- Finalists will be announced by October 1.
- During the week of November 12, finalists will present their submissions to a panel of judges in Shanghai, and a final winner or winners will be announced.
- At stake is USD$15,000 as a cash prize, as well as USD$25,000 to help see the winning scheme implemented.
- For full submission requirements and competition details, download the competition brief.
