Submission: September 17, 2015
Registration: September 14, 2015
Language: English
Location: Sydney, Australia
Prizes: Stage 1: AUD2,500, Stage 2: AUD5,000
Type: Student & Young Architects
ULI Asia Pacific through ULI Australia has announced the launch, of the ULI Urban Innovation Initiative. The Initiative will champion urban innovation, collaboration and youth leadership in the property industry.
The Initiative will feature a bi-annual competition that explores solutions to an issue or project relevant to the successful urbanisation of our Cities. The initiative will couple creative thinking by young professionals with mentoring from industry leaders and sector specialists to develop leading initiatives that connect capital and real estate to create and add value.
The ULI Urban Innovation Initiative is organised and convened by the Urban Land Institute Young Leaders Group and is sponsored by the inaugural ULI Urban Innovations sponsor, Mirvac. The 2015 ULI Urban Innovation Ideas Competition is supported by – The Committee for Sydney and The City of Sydney.
The competition will be launched on the 13 August and run from August to December 2015, with a public exhibition to be held to showcase the submissions. The competition’s primary aim is to provide a platform for the youth of today to express and stimulate ideas about how cities can add social, cultural, ecological and economic value through the potential of public space.
2015 COMPETITION THEME
The theme for this year’s competition is ‘transforming spaces into great urban places’ with George Street, Sydney as its site.
Great urban places are distinct, unique and desirable offering an experience whilst leaving an impression and an identity of the place in people’s minds. A great urban place provides a platform for city life to thrive. Importantly great urban places add social, economic, cultural and ecological value.
George St is Sydney’s premier street linking the north of the CBD to the south of the CBD. The NSW Government and the City of Sydney Council are undertaking a significant investment to reduce congestion on George Street and improve access and mobility through the construction of the CBD and South East Light Rail.
“Light rail will transform Sydney by offering fast, reliable journeys from Circular Quay through the CBD”
“A major element of the CBD and South East Light Rail project is the creation of a new Pedestrian Zone on George Street.”
The Pedestrian Zone will consist of a one kilometer pedestrianised area shared with light rail along George Street (between Bathurst and Hunter Streets) covering around 40 per cent of the 2.4 km street between Circular Quay and Town Hall.
This landmark infrastructure project will provide a method of moving people more efficiently through the city, however there is also an opportunity for a great urban place to be cultivated that can raise Sydney’s international profile.
This ideas competition seeks innovative urban ideas that:
- Add value (economic, social, cultural and/or ecological) to the public spaces surrounding the new light rail.
- Articulate a vision for George St
- Create a great urban place or series of places.
- Add to the transformation from space to place.
2015 COMPETITION CHALLENGE
The goal of this years competition is to present a set of Urban Innovations to industry stakeholders that could transform George Street into a World-Class 24 hour Urban Place that reinvigorates and re-frames Sydney’s CBD.
Urban Innovations can be physical, operational or digital interventions with entrants focusing on the social, cultural and/or ecological benefits of their proposal.
All Urban Innovations should be contextual and demonstrate potential for economic benefit.
The competition is split into 2 stages:
Stage 1: Idea’s Competition
Stage 2: Idea Development
A minimum of 3 teams will be selected to develop their scheme in Stage 2.
WHAT
George St 2020, Re–imagine Sydney’s Main Street is an International Ideas Competition for young property, design and related professionals to add value for Sydney’s main street by enhancing public space opportunities along the new light rail corridor.
WHO
Young Professionals under the age of 35 years
WHY
To stimulate ideas about how cities can add social, cultural, ecological and economic value through investment in public space
HOW
1. Articulate a vision and identity for George St
2. Propose an urban innovation that unlocks value along George St and Transforms it into a great urban place.
PRIZE
Stage 1: AUD2,500 + mentorship for stage 2
Stage 2: AUD5,000 + a trip to 2016 ULI conference (capped at AUD5,000)
