Competition brief

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Contents
Why p2
What p3
Who p4
Where p5
When p13
How p14
Competition Terms p16

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Why
Urban SOS is AECOM’s annual
student competition. It was
created to engage students in
the fields of urban planning and
design, architecture, landscape
architecture and engineering with
the issues confronting modern
cities and to allow them to propose
solutions that will be seen by
established professionals in their
field.

With more than half of the world Cash prize that will be awarded to the
winning team(s):
living in cities, the way in which
we address urban challenges will
determine much about our future
as a planet. As a global design and US$20,000
engineering consultancy, AECOM
recognizes that cities require
broad-based, interdisciplinary
thinking and, if properly managed,
City where semi-finalists will receive a
can become machines for complimentary trip to present before the
environmental and social progress. World Architecture Festival:
This is why we are pioneering our
Global Cities Institute in addition to
Urban SOS. Barcelona
The program culminates each year
at the World Architecture Festival
in Barcelona. ‘Transformations’ is
the driving theme of the Festival
and of this year’s Urban SOS. For
AECOM, this partnership is pivotal
to growing our global architecture
practice, in which we seek to
reinvent the role of the architect
as part of an integrated team
who makes connections between
land and buildings, ecology and
economy, physical design and social
reality.

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What
AECOM is seeking submissions for
our second Urban SOS competition.
The theme of this year’s
competition is Transformations.
We are seeking integrated design
and planning responses in five
specific cities worldwide, which are
currently undergoing an elemental
transformation. In each city, a
specific event or set of conditions
offers both opportunities and
challenges to improving the quality
and tenor of built environments,
the effectiveness of infrastructure
and the responsible stewardship of
ecological interactions.
City-specific briefs are outlined
in the ‘Where’ section. Entrants
must select one city and offer a
competition entry that responds
directly to the question posed in it.
As the cities are transforming
themselves, Entrants must
articulate and propose a design
and/or planning initiative or
response that will help the city to
positively address transformation.
Responses can range from a
strategic framework to a surgical
micro-response. Entrants should
demonstrate a holistic approach to
expressing these transformations.
Designs should show a connective
language that can embrace many or
all aspects of the site. They should
express a language of built form
that ties together land, community,
buildings, ecology, infrastructure,
economic and social activity to
strategically transform your site.
We are asking for professional
responses to challenging questions.
Judges will value creativity and
innovation, but your response must
be fundamentally deliverable.
Responses will be judged based on
these criteria:
• Response directly answers
stated question for chosen city
• Clear strategy for how proposal
will affect larger city’s
transformative state
• Clear sense of how proposed
design will affect transformation
of site
• Holistic approach to design that
fully embraces site
• Appreciation for interdisciplinary
thinking beyond traditional
practice
• Creativity and innovation
• Feasibility and viability
• Ability to communicate ideas
in a clear, interesting and
compelling manner
The most successful responses
will be those that are well-
presented, combining the points
of view of more than one discipline
– architecture, landscape
architecture, engineering,
economics, planning, ecological
science, etc – and are realistically
able to be implemented given pre-
existing, city-specific antecedents,
conditions, socio-economic and
politico-cultural realities.
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Who
The competition is open to
undergraduate and graduate
students at all levels of higher
education in all countries of the
world. Entrants must be enrolled
in a certified degree programme
during the Autumn 2010 term.

• Levels: Bachelors, Masters, Ph.D.

students.

• Fields of Study: Architecture,

Urban and Regional Planning,
Urban Design, Landscape
Architecture, Economics,
Environmental Science,
Engineering, and related
disciplines.

Submissions may be from

individuals or teams of up to 4
members. Teams will benefit
from having members of multiple
disciplines.

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Where
Entrants should submit a response
to one of the seven city-specific
questions articulated in the
following pages. Each team may
only submit a response to one.

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Considered a story of urban

sprawl, this desert city is
now attempting to revive
its urban core, having lived
beyond its limits. Its model
of low density, high volume of
resource depletion and harsh
climatic conditions has been
replicated in various forms
across the United States
and now in the developing
world, from the Middle East
to China. It is a model that
can no longer continue, for
reasons both ecological and
increasingly economical. Now
that the housing bubble has
burst and the climate crisis
is in full swing, what is a
sprawling desert megapolitan
like Phoenix to do?

Find a site (building, open

space, neighborhood)
in Phoenix where
redevelopment of existing
typologies or fragments
could result in a low- or no-
carbon outcome, which could
be widely implementable
to similar sites in the Sun
Corridor region (Greater
Phoenix-Tucson) and contexts
elsewhere in the world that
are facing the same issues.

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The glittering skylines of

Middle East boom cities are a
cliché in today’s international
popular culture. Jeddah,
long the gateway of Saudi
Arabia to the world given
its proximity to the holy
sites at Mecca and Medina,
is on the cusp of a new
wave of land development.
Recent liberalization in its
development regulations will
open unplanned settlements
to more investment from
public and private interests.
Now that Jeddah has decided
to make the leap into the
stratosphere of real estate,
how can it create model new
land developments that are
both ecologically responsible
and culturally sustainable?

Propose a private land-

development project – a
mixed-use scheme, a retail
precinct, a residential
development – on an
actual site in Jeddah that
is responsible; that is, it is
sensitive to site and climatic
conditions, reflects the
unique Arab culture of its
surroundings, and minimizes
its carbon footprint.

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Following the Summer
Olympics, the crowds
have left Beijing and the
infrastructure built for
them remains. The Chinese
capital now finds itself
equipped with major
sporting facilities, new rail
lines, new roads, countless
new office buildings and
apartment blocks – all of it
built in the last few years
at an astonishing scale and
rapidity, all in the name
of the 2008 Games. Today,
though, many of these places
stand empty, under-used
and under-utilized. Now,
nearly two years on, how
can Beijing capitalize on the
infrastructure investment
it has already made to
propel itself into long-term
improvement?
Find a recently built place(s)
or ’piece of city’ in Beijing
such as a new neighborhood,
building, park, piece of
infrastructure. Plot a course
for it. How can it be used,
and useful, in a way that
will enhance quality of life
first-and-foremost for local
residents?
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The capital of Haiti, Port au

Prince, has recently endured one
of the most cataclysmic events
in recent memory: a massive
earthquake that left this poor,
underdeveloped city devastated,
killing an estimated 200,000
people. The herculean task of
remaking the city is exacerbated
by conditions of low-grade
infrastructure, a nearly non-
existent civil society, and
extreme poverty. Now that the
dust has settled from a massive
natural disaster, what model is
out there for Port au Prince to
rebuild?

Propose a redevelopment to
a site (building, open space,
neighborhood) in Port au Prince
that has been damaged by the
earthquake. Your response
must be conscious of great
disadvantages facing Haiti
and must be implementable in
light of its societal conditions:
namely, a weak state and
marginal resources.

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Istanbul is this year’s European Capital
of Culture, an opportunity that puts it
in an international spotlight where it
can showcase its cultural identity and
development. As a result, with investment
at the municipal, national and European
levels, Istanbul is in the midst of a
renaissance that is bringing increased
tourism volume to a newfound relevance
in contemporary art. Istanbul straddles
(literally) two worlds – West and East,
Europe and the Middle East, developed
and developing, ancient and modern –
and it is the major city in a society with
deep aspirations to join the European
Union. Now that Istanbul has ‘arrived’
on the European scene, how can the city
use its Capital of Culture distinction
and its ancient heritage to bolster its
international profile as a forward-thinking
hub for contemporary creative industries?
Find a site (building, open space,
neighborhood) in Istanbul where
redevelopment could help to enhance the
city’s competitive edge in the European
and global context as a generator for
ideas and trends, and a magnet for jobs
and investment. Redevelopment should
be organic; that is, it finds its roots in
the city’s existing cultural and physical
topography. It should also be socially and
economically responsive to the needs of
multiple members of the community.
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One of the world’s largest cities, São Paulo sits within a wider
megapolitan context that includes Rio de Janeiro (another one
of the world’s largest cities), and million-plus cities Campinas
and Guarulhos. As Brazil emerges onto the world stage as an
important player, its cities – and São Paulo in particular – will
play an increasingly important role in the global economic
network. The result is a steady increase in overall visitor
arrivals. Despite a growing tourism trajectory, Brazil still
lags behind in much of the infrastructure that underpins a
successful visitor offer. Now that São Paolo is expected to see
a steady increase in outside visitors, how can the city offer
the world-class facilities and systems needed to support
this?

Find a site (building, open space, neighborhood) in São Paulo

where responsible redevelopment will help bolster tourism
and make the visitor experience a beneficial one. Take into
consideration the anticipated arrivals for the 2014 World Cup
and 2016 Olympic Games in nearby Rio, as well as business
travelers and general tourists alike. Design a destination – a
place that will add to São Paulo’s luster, while still rooted in
its vernacular qualities and will benefit local inhabitants.

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2010 is the year of South Africa. This year marks the

twentieth anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s release
from prison and the country is the host to this
year’s World Cup, the world’s most watched athletic
tournament. Despite all this, South Africa’s largest
city still faces big challenges: how to integrate
a well-presented city center with large informal
settlements that surround the city, grapple with
increasing public safety concerns, and provide
economic opportunities for a population that
continues to have deep socio-economic divisions.
Twenty years on from the beginning of the end of
political inequality, Johannesburg faces a new
challenge: how to make the city socio-economically
relevant to all communities.

Find a site (building, open space,

neighborhood) in Johannesburg that
can benefit from a design intervention
that will help support a local industry,
or bridge the economic gap between
haves and have-nots. This intervention
should leverage existing skills found
within a segment of Johannesburg’s
diverse communities.

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When
1 May 2010
Call for submissions opens

31 July 2010
Submission Deadline

15 September 2010
Announcement of 5 Semi-Finalists

3-5 November 2010

Presentation + Critique of Semi-Finalists’
Submissions at the World Architecture Festival in
Barcelona, Spain

5 November 2010
Announcement of Winner(s)

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How
Submission Requirements
Each entry will have two components:

1) A project statement

A 500-word description of the site and response

to the question. This statement must clearly
indicate the name of the city. It must also include
coordinates (via Google Earth) of the site, or
a search-able address on Google Earth. This
statement must include only words/numbers,
must be in 12pt font, and must be submitted as a
PDF.

2) Presentation

Submit a PDF presentation of up to 10 slides.

These must include images and/or text. There is no
word limit but font size must be legible (minimum
12pt). All responses must be in English, with any
measurements provided in metric.

Each page of the PDF must be Landscape

Orientation, 25.4cm x 19.05cm. PDF files must
be 10 pages maximum. Any submitted files that
include more than 10 pages will be disqualified.

Entrants are encouraged to focus their

submissions on clear, concise communication
emphasizing main ideas, key points, and
visible design solutions. Students may include
photographs, diagrams, drawings, renders,
collages or other visualizations to express their
solution. Entrants are encouraged to ensure that
the narrative for their submission is clear and
explicit.

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How
Submission Format
Submissions must be in Adobe Acrobat PDF
format. Each file must be no larger than 5MB.

Submissions must be uploaded using the

submission link on this website by 12pm GMT on
31 July 2010. Entrants will receive a confirmation
that the files have been uploaded and will
receive a confirmation number. (Please retain
confirmation for reference.)

Failure to comply with any of these submission

requirements will result in immediate
disqualification.

Semi-finalists’ Submission
Requirements
Four or five semi-finalist teams will be selected
to develop their proposals further and invited to
present their submissions to the final judging
panel at the 2010 World Architecture Festival in
Barcelona. The semi-finalists will be announced
on or before 15 September 2010.

Each of these teams will be provided with an

honorarium to contribute to travel costs (amount
varies depending on location of team). At the
World Architecture Festival, the semi-finalists
will be invited to present their submissions in an
appropriate format (presentation, video, display
boards, model) to the judging panel. Further
details on submission requirements will be
provided to the semi-finalists.

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Competition terms
Submission
Competition submission requires completion of an online form, which includes identification
of team members, site selection, and submission of two PDF documents: the project statement
and presentation. Full details can be found in the ‘How’ section of this brief.

Entry fee
There is no entry fee for entering the AECOM Student Competition.

Schedule + deadlines
1 May 2010: Call for submissions opens
31 July 2010: Submission Deadline
15 September 2010: Announcement of the Semi-finalists
3-5 November 2010 : Presentation and critique of Semi-finalists’ submissions at the World
Architecture Festival
5 November 2010: Announcement of the Winner

Eligibility
The competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students at all levels of higher
education in all countries of the world. At the time of submission (31 July 2010) and at the
World Architecture Festival (3-5 November 2010), entrants must be able to demonstrate that
all team members are enrolled in a certified degree programme during the Autumn 2010 term.
No exceptions will be made to this requirement.

Team composition
Individuals may participate on only one team. Each team is permitted to enter only one
submission. All team members must be able to demonstrate compliance with the eligibility
criteria set out above.

No changes are permitted to team members following entry submission, and no substitutions
can be made to team members at any stage in the competition. Withdrawal of any team
members must be confirmed in writing by all team members, and any team members that
withdraw will not be eligible for the travel honoraria or prize money.

Publication restrictions
Entrants may not refer to projects that have already been implemented or which have been
designed on the basis of any agreement entered into by the Entrant or Entrants with a public,
public/private or fully private body with the intention of actual development of the project in
question. Similarly, entries may not refer to of projects published before the last day of the
deliberations of the judging panel.

Infringement of copyright + other intellectual property

All work submitted for the competition must be the Entrant’s original work. It is the Entrant’s
sole responsibility to ensure that the work submitted does not infringe upon the intellectual
property rights of any third party, including, but not limited to copyright, trademark and design
right. AECOM shall not be responsible for Entrant’s infringement of any third party intellectual
property rights, regardless of whether said infringement was known or should have been
known by Entrant.

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Judging
The semi-finalists will be selected by a judging panel comprising representatives from AECOM
and the Architecture Review.

The top 10 Entrants will receive special mention on the competition website. Five semi-
finalists will be invited to present their work to the final judging panel at the World Architecture
Festival.

The winning team will be determined by the final judging panel at the World Architecture
Festival, comprising AECOM leaders and industry experts.

Notification
All Entrants will be notified by email on 1 September 2010 when the semi-finalists are
announced. The winning team will be announced at the World Architecture Festival on 5
November 2010.

Winner + prizes
Each of the four/five semi-finalist teams will receive an honorarium to contribute to travel
expenses related to attending the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona to present the
team’s submission. The semi-finalist honoraria are to contribute to expenses related to
attendance and presentation at the World Architecture Festival only and cannot be exchanged
or substituted 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$20,000, which may be divided amongst one or more winning teams. In 2009, the winning
team received US$15,000, while the two runner-up teams received US$2,500 each as prize
money.

Decisions made by the judging panel shall be final.

Use of submitted works

Entrant agrees that AECOM and competition sponsors are granted the non-exclusive
reproduction rights to all entries for AECOM’s advertising, promotion, exhibition, print
publication and internet purposes directly relating to the competition.

AECOM shall have no responsibility for any unauthorised use of the Entrant’s works by any
third party, including but not limited to the sponsors.

Public announcement + exhibition

All competition submissions, the winning proposals and all other submitted proposals, will be
exhibited online. The exhibition will continue through the spring of 2011.

Further information + questions

All information required can be found on this website. If you have questions that cannot be
answered online, please contact AECOM at urbansos2010@aecom.com. Questions that relate
to information set out in the Competition Terms will not receive a response.

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