For a Resilient Rockaway (FAR ROC) Design Competition Finalists

Four finalists have just been chosen from Phase I of the two-phase “For a Resilient Rockaway” (FAR ROC) design competition. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), L+M Development Partners, The Bluestone Organization, Triangle Equities, American Institute of Architects New York Chapter (AIA New York) and Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. (Enterprise) made the announcement at the Center for Architecture in New York City.

The FAR ROC jury selected the four proposals from a pool of 117 submissions that came from designers in more than 20 countries. Launched in April, the FAR ROC competition sought ideas for developing an 80+ acre site called Arverne East into a new mixed-use, mixed-income, sustainable and storm-resilient community that will meet the new physical and regulatory challenges of waterfront development while maintaining the balance between innovation and affordability.

The devastating impact of Hurricane Sandy on low-lying communities in the greater New York area emphasized the need for thoughtful and critical consideration of how cities should approach the future development of their flood-prone areas. FAR ROC asked applicants to use the Arverne East site as a laboratory to identify and explore best practices in waterfront development for the 21st century and beyond. The teams were also asked to propose innovative building solutions that not only respond to New York City’s housing needs, but also bring critical economic development to the Rockaways. The goal is for the winning design concepts to serve as a guide for long-term planning and development strategies in New York City and other densely populated seaside communities.

The four finalist projects and their design teams are:

F.R.E.D. by Ennead Architects, New York, NY

Ennead Architects, a New York-based firm that designs buildings that authentically express the progressive missions of their cultural, educational, scientific and governmental institutions and are responsive to their specific environmental conditions. Known for The Standard High Line, Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, and Common Ground Community, among others, the firm is partnering with Elmwood Park, NJ-based Langan Engineering; the New York offices of LERA, Atelier 10, and Hargreaves; and the Glen Ridge, NJ office of BioHabitats on FAR ROC.

Rockaway Rising by Lateral Office, Toronto, Canada

Lateral Office, a Toronto, Canada-based experimental design practice that operates at the intersection of architecture, landscape, and urbanism. Known for re-envisioning runways in Reykjavik, Iceland and developing public space along the Mississippi River in Memphis, Tennessee, the firm is partnering with New York-based firms WXY Studio, Buro Happold, EDesign Dynamics, Sam Schwartz Engineering, and HR&A Advisors.

Far Rockaway by Seeding Office, London, UK

Seeding Office, a London-based architectural practice deeply focused in exploring, studying, investigating and discussing everything that concerns the way people live in their built environment. Known for the Museum of Architecture in London, England, the New National Library in Cairo, Egypt, and the Arena Centar Shopping Mall in Zagreb, Croatia, the firm is partnering with New York-based firms Biber Architects and Robert Silman Associates.

Small Means and Great Ends by White Arkitekter, Stockholm, Sweden

White Arkitekter, a firm based in Goteborg, Sweden, is the largest architectural practice in Scandinavia and combines leadership in sustainability with high quality architecture and urban design. Known for the redevelopment of Western Harbour in Malmö, Sweden, the Kristianstad Wetlands Visitor Centre in Kristianstad, Denmark, and the Tele2 Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, the firm is partnering with the New York offices of ARUP and Gensler.

In addition to the four finalists, six submissions received Honorable Mention:

ROCKeast by http://www.frpo.es/, Seattle, WA

N.Y.S.P. by FRPO, Madrid, Spain

Beachside Lifestyle, Community Lifeline by McGregor Coxall, Sydney, Australia

S.E.C.U.R. ROC by elandscript, Hong Kong

Dune Co-Habitat by LOT-EK + SCAPE, New York, NY

S.A.N.D. by ijKim Architect, New York, NY

The four finalists from Phase I will receive $30,000 each to further develop their proposed design solutions. In addition, they will participate in an orientation, a tour of the Arverne East site in the Rockaways, and a community engagement workshop, funded by the Surdna Foundation, which seeks to foster just and sustainable communities in the United States. In Phase I of the competition, project teams were asked to submit a proposed site plan, along with specific resilient development strategies, smart infrastructure strategies, and proposed uses for any facilities on the site. Innovative submissions from individuals, students and non-licensed firms were welcomed during Phase I; however, finalist project teams proceeding to Phase II of the design competition must include at least one licensed architect and one licensed engineer.

Phase II submissions are due from each team at the offices of AIANY by Monday, October 7, 2013. The winning project team will be announced on October 24, and will receive an additional prize of $30,000 and the opportunity to engage with the City, L+M Development Partners, the Bluestone Organization and Triangle Equities to discuss the possible production, design, and construction documents for the development of the project.