NYC2012, the committee leading New York City’s bid to become the host city of the 2012 Olympic Games announced September 26 that it is inviting all architects to participate in an innovative design study for the 2012 Olympic Village.

The request for qualifications (RFQ) [download the PDF file], which is seeking “innovative and imaginative architectural design appropriate to the Olympic Spirit and designers bold enough to make this vision a reality,” kicks off the design study. The RFQ, which is open to all designers and architects, states that the overall objective of the project “is to strengthen the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of the residents of the Olympic Village and form the basis of a model for future urban housing.”

The proposed site of the Olympic Village is Queens West, directly across the East River from the United Nations. During the 2012 Olympic Games, it would house 16,000 athletes and coaches. Following the event, it would provide world-class housing for up to 18,000 New Yorkers.

“This competition, which will be the first of its kind for any Olympic Village, will be an opportunity to create a community that Olympians will look forward to calling ‘home’ during their stay here,” says Daniel L. Doctoroff, deputy mayor for economic development and rebuilding, and founder of NYC2012. “In addition, it will continue New York's tradition as a leading innovator of architectural design, great housing, and community-based urban development.”

Up to five finalists
A design review panel will select up to five finalists representing a wide range of urban and architectural design philosophies. The finalists, who will be announced December 4, will participate in a 15–20-week planning and design study.

The design review hopes to generate creative and varied concepts to help design an outstanding Olympic Village for New York City. The panel includes:

• Gary Hack, dean, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Fine Arts
• Con Howe, planning director for the City of Los Angeles
• Ronay Menschel, chair of Phipps Houses
• Laurie D. Olin, Hon. AIA, University of Pennsylvania professor of landscape architecture
• Will Rogers, president of the Trust for Public Land
• Moshe Safdie, FAIA, architect
• Dejan Sudjic, architecture critic
• Cristina Teuscher, Olympian
• Jan Wilson, Paralympian
• Denise Scott Brown, RIBA, Venturi Scott Brown.

The five finalists and the design process will be presented to NYC2012 and to the public through an exhibit and an interactive Web site. The final round of competition will consist of an evaluation and public-comment period. Concurrently, NYC2012 staff will conduct the studies necessary to assess the viability of the plans. The winner will be announced in May 2004.

“We had an extraordinary experience at LMDC selecting the designer for the World Trade Center site from a wide array of submissions from some of the world’s leading architects,” says Alexander Garvin, NYC2012 director of planning, design, and development; NYC planning commissioner; and former Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) vice president. “I look forward to achieving equally successful results through the competition we are initiating today for the 2012 Olympic Village in New York. We welcome proposals from young designers who are interested in exploring the potential of an environmentally sustainable residential community that will set the standard for urban design in the 21st century.”

Submissions are due by 5 p.m. EST on November 17. All guidelines, details, rules, and updates for this competition can be found on the NYC2012 Web site, www.nyc2012.com.

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