DC Bike Rack Design Competition (This Means You!)

I’m lifting this wholesale from a DC-related listserv that I’m on, and posting it with the admonition that you – yes, you – consider having a go at it.  Bike racks aren’t complicated, and we might all benefit from a new perspective.   Plus, $1500 and a night at the Mayflower?  That could be fun (just ask Elliot Spitzer).  Here’s the Call for Entries:

Call for Entries
Creative Bicycle Rack Design
Deadline: Friday, February 9th at 5:00 p.m.
Honorarium:  $1,500

Project
The Golden Triangle Business Improvement District is requesting drawn design entries for creative and unique bicycle racks.  The racks will be installed within the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District
in Washington, DC.

The call is open to the entire art community including visual artists, architects, graphic designers, urban designers and bicycling enthusiasts.

The winning entries will receive a $1500 honorarium plus a complimentary Saturday night stay for two at the luxurious Mayflower Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Avenue NW, in the heart of the Golden Triangle.

Background
The Golden Triangle encompasses 42 blocks of Washington, DC’s central business district directly south of Dupont Circle and bounded approximately by Pennsylvania Ave, New Hampshire Ave, Massachusetts
Ave and 16th Street NW. The Golden Triangle is a bustling cosmopolitan commercial area with 75,000 professionals and over 800 retailers and restaurants. The Golden Triangle BID works to keep the area an
exceptional place that is clean and friendly, inviting and accessible.  For more information about the BID visit www.goldentriangledc.com.

Design Guidelines

•The main body of the rack must be designed to be fabricated from steel tubing
•Accommodate at least 2 bicycles upright by its frame
•Enable the frame and one of the wheels to be secured using a standard u-lock
•Provide locking points that are between 1′ and 3′ off the ground
•Provide locking points with a thickness of 1″ minimum and 4″ maximum
•Include no sharp edges or other potential safety hazards
•A gap near the bottom for pedal clearance
•A base that can accept at least two 3/8″ x 3″ wedge anchors for surface mounting
•Reflect or complement the character of the area

Fabrication
The Golden Triangle BID will be responsible for fabrication.

Selection Process
The selection panel will include representatives of the community, art professionals and members of the Golden Triangle BID. The panel will select one or more designs based on originality, ease of maintenance,
and the ability to transform the public space.  The Call is open to all, however preference will be given to those who work and/or reside in the Washington Metropolitan Area.  The selected artist(s) will be
expected to work with the panel to refine the design for functionality purposes if deemed necessary. When the design(s) are approved the artist will assign the copyright of their design to the Golden Triangle BID.

Schedule
Call for Entries Issued    -December 24, 2008
Call for Entries Due -February 9, 2009, 5 p.m.
Review of Entries -February 2009
Designs Selected -March 2009
Fabrication and Installation -Spring 2009

Submittal
•Cover page with name, address, telephone number and email address
•Letter of interest of no more than 1 page stating your interest and qualifications for the project.
•High-quality JPG,TIF, or EPS image of the drawn design, less than 4MB, to scale with measurements
•Description of materials, finishes, and color.
•Locations will be determined at a later date but the artist may propose a specific location in this submittal.

Submit design entries by February 9, 2009 at 5 p.m. to

Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (attn: David Suls)
1120 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 260, Washington, DC 20036
Or
Email to dsuls at goldentriangledc.com