Deadline: February 3, 2012

We want Copley Square to GLOW.

SHIFTBoston, in association with LightBoston and the Friends of Copley Square, are asking artists, architects, urban planners, sculptors, lighting designers, and landscape architects around the world to create a NEW approach for lighting Copley Square. We want to make Copley one of the greatest squares in the world using LIGHT.

Copley Square is a significant LANDMARK space in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood. Flanked by McKim Meade and White’s Boston Public Library, H.H. Richardson’s Trinity Church, the I.M. Pei’s Hancock Tower, the Old South Church, and the charming Copley Plaza Hotel, the site is arguably one of the most important PUBLIC SQUARE’s in the New England region, if not the country. Its rich history and architectural tradition create a unique urban setting that is used to host civic CELEBRATIONS and public events such as the world class Boston Marathon, farmer’s markets, concerts and art shows.

We are seeking proposals which will capture the beauty of the existing fabric in this unique urbanscape. Lighting design concepts should highlight existing MONUMENTS, fountains and landscaping features in the square. We are also looking for proposals that demonstrate coordinated structural and pedestrian lighting of the entire space, rather than focusing exclusively on the architecture.

We want light that is playful, respectful, purposeful, and rich.

Consider the circulation in and programming of the square and envision a new lighting concept which might PLAY against or build upon each. Proposals could incorporate any of the following features: recessed lighting, light-play on steam and/or water, freestanding and sculptural lighting, digital imagery, moving light, colored light, new landscape features including paving patterns, vegetation, existing facade light washing. State of the art, high efficiency, illumination technology with use of alternative energy sources is desirable.

Awards

Three teams will be selected as finalists of the first round. The selected teams will present their concepts at the GLOW Forum event in March 2012 among select members of the jury, fellow designers, lighting manufacturers, press and government, academic, community and business leaders. The three proposals will become part of a postcard series in the Boston Metropolitan area.

Winning teams will be paired with a professional from Boston Light Source and given two months to work with this professional to develop lighting specifications for their proposal. In April of 2012, the jury will review the three final proposals and select the one that is most technically feasible and suitable to the overall program goals. SHIFTboston will provide the winning team with an award of 1,000 US dollars. The winning team will then present their submission to the Friends of Copley Square and to the City of Boston Department of Parks and Recreation for consideration of construction in 2013.

All eligible entries will be promoted on the SHIFTboston blog and website and will become part of the SHIFTboston GLOW book in 2012.

http://shiftboston.org/competitions/2012glow.php
http://www.archined.nl/prijsvragen/categories/23/?tx_dredisplayrecords_pi1[pointer]=1