In Las Vegas, the concept of awarding significant cash prizes for innovative and effective economic development solutions makes sense. The city recently launched its Strong Cities, Strong Communities (SC2) Challenge to do just that: tap the global design, architecture, land planning, and economic development community for the best economic development ideas.
Federally funded by a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, SC2 is an international prize competition awarded in 2012 to three U.S. cities: Las Vegas; Greensboro, N.C.; and Hartford, Conn.
In Las Vegas, the competition can award up to $900,000 in prizes for transformational economic development plans to help revitalize four targeted areas within the city: Cashman Center, the Las Vegas Medical District, business parks and existing Redevelopment projects.
"Participating in the Strong Cities, Strong Communities Challenge is exciting for our city,” said Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman. “Las Vegas is known for its big, larger-than-life personality, so seeking big, out-of-the-box ideas is right in sync with our culture. We consider it a privilege to tap into the best and brightest minds globally and look forward to receiving some exciting, dynamic and innovative plans that will help specific areas of our city thrive and grow.”
The city is reaching far and wide to solicit the most qualified multidisciplinary teams in the fields of land planning, urban design, and other related fields to participate in this SC2 Challenge. The list of potential candidates includes leading professional firms as well as student teams from universities locally, regionally, and globally.
Winning plans must match Las Vegas’s needs, offer a feasible roadmap toward implementation, and represent innovative perspectives on economic development. The competition is divided into two phases.
During phase one, multidisciplinary teams submit economic vision proposals to the city for one of the four target areas. The top three proposals, as scored by members of an independent evaluation panel, will be submitted to the Las Vegas City Council to approve the receipt of cash prizes of $60,000 (1st place), $30,000 (2nd place), and $10,000 (3rd place), respectively. They and any other selected finalists will advance to phase two.
In phase two, finalists’ ideas will be expanded into comprehensive economic development plans for formal presentation and review by an esteemed panel of independent judges. Winners may receive cash prizes totaling up to $800,000 with a grand prize of $500,000.
Deadline to register for the Las Vegas SC2 Challenge is July 24. Phase one winners will be announced in November 2014, and phase two winners will be selected in May 2015.
Related Stories
Office Buildings | Dec 19, 2017
How do we measure human performance, and what does it mean for the workplace?
There are many new tools and methods that are beginning to look more comprehensively to evaluate organizational well-being.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Dec 18, 2017
Canada’s newest funicular makes Edmonton’s largest green space more accessible
The incline elevator is located in downtown Edmonton and was publicly funded.
Sponsored | Building Team | Dec 12, 2017
3 tips to address the top causes of budget overruns
The most cited issues are communication breakdowns, inadequate fees for the work provided, and unrealistic deadlines or schedules.
Multifamily Housing | Dec 12, 2017
Call for technical experts: Dog wash station design
The editors of Multifamily Design + Construction magazine need your expertise.
Government Buildings | Dec 11, 2017
Is this the world’s most humane prison?
The C.F. Møller-designed prison’s architecture supports the inmates’ and staff’s mental and physical well-being.
Architects | Dec 7, 2017
Snow Kreilich Architects receives the 2018 AIA Architecture Firm Award
Julie Snow, FAIA, founded the firm in Minneapolis in 1995, and later was joined by partner Matt Kreilich, AIA.
Architects | Dec 7, 2017
2018 AIA Gold Medal awarded to James Stewart Polshek
In 1963 Polshek started his first architecture firm, James Stewart Polshek Architect.
Architects | Dec 4, 2017
Architects to Congress: ‘You're making a terrible mistake’
House and Senate gut historic building credits and penalize architecture firms.
Architects | Dec 1, 2017
The third wave of urban waterfront development
The nature of waterfront redevelopment has been evolutionary, in the truest sense of the word.
Multifamily Housing | Nov 29, 2017
First Porsche, now Aston Martin: Sports car maker co-develops Miami condo tower *UPDATED
The 391-unit Aston Martin Residences will feature seven penthouses and a duplex penthouse, all with private pools and terraces overlooking Biscayne Bay.