This competition was directed by Louise Harrison whilst at the RIBA Competitions Office.
Winners
Foster & Partners
Our involvement
- Designing the right competitive process
- Researching and identifying potential competitors to alert to the competition
- Advertising the competition in print and on-line media
- Writing the competition rules
- Appointing an Architect Assessor to write the competition brief
- Planning the competition timetable and budget to meet client requirements
- Acting as point of contact for the competition
- Ensuring a clear and ethical process
- Briefing the jury panel
- Briefing competitors
- Managing the competitive process
- Liaising with the client’s procurement team to ensure a compliant process
- Advising on and then managing the scoring/evaluation procedures
- Arranging and facilitate interviews and presentations
- Maintaining confidentiality
- Creating an audit trail
- Assisting with press and media enquiries and coverage
- Competition administration
- Debriefing and follow up
Facts
- This was the second project commissioned by Gateshead Council and followed The Baltic Art Centre. It too was to be flagship building in the redevelopment of the famous River Tyne waterfront.
- This was to be a new building for the prestigious Northern Sinfonia and as such the client expected to commission a very special design.
- The client wanted an open competition to allow engagement with an international audience and the competition was widely advertised to attract international as well as national and local firms.
- An important aspect of this competition was to attract proposals from the very best teams, to ensure that the client was given a choice between the most interesting and capable practices.
- 12 teams rather than the usual maximum 6 teams were invited to submit design ideas in a second stage – and each was paid a contribution towards their submission.
- Close liaison with the Council’s procurement team was maintained throughout the competition process to ensure the Council’s methodologies and rules were observed, which were in turn compliant with OJEU processes.
- Winner of RIBA Award 2005; Civic Trust Award 2006 and British Construction Industry Award.