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Beyond Granite Design Competition

The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), in cooperation with the General Services Administration (GSA), is sponsoring a design competition for a new temporary outdoor commemorative installation in Washington, DC with the goal of enhancing a prominent but underutilized public space in the city’s monumental core while fostering a public dialogue regarding the nature of commemoration in the nation’s capital.

Artists and/or design professionals, working as individuals or teams, are invited to propose ideas for an innovative temporary commemorative work that embodies the commemorative theme selected for the competition — the precepts and positive impact of Earth Day, the world’s largest civic observance.

A Design Competition for A New Temporary Commemorative Work in Washington DC

NCPC and GSA are inviting artists and/or design professionals, working as individuals or teams, to propose ideas for a temporary commemorative installation to be located at the Ariel Rios Hemicycle, a grassy semi-circle along the west side of 12th Street NW between Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues in Washington’s Federal Triangle.

While the overall objective of this competition is to explore opportunities for temporary commemoration, a theme has been identified to provide a focus for competition submissions. The selected theme is the purpose and positive impact of Earth Day.

NCPC and GSA seek proposals that symbolize the defining precepts of Earth Day and inspire the audience to reflect upon the influence of Earth Day over the past 40 years, and its impact moving forward. In addition to appropriately embodying the theme, works should also be site specific and designed to respond to the Hemicycle’s urban form and context.

The winner of the competition – which will be selected in summer 2012 – may be contracted to design, fabricate, and install their proposed installation, resulting in a public display at the Hemicycle for a period of approximately one year. Concurrent with this competition, GSA will be making permanent site enhancements such as new seating and improvements to the landscaping.