Brad Pitt Seeks Sustainable Design for New Orleans  Friday, June 9, is the last day for online registration to participate in the Sustainable Design Competition for New Orleans.
Sponsored by Global Green and Brad Pitt, the goal of the competition is to generate ideas for sustainable redevelopment of the devastated city that discourages the use of non-renewable resources, helps lower the dependence of its residents on fossil fuels and their byproducts, and interweaves natural and human systems. “Competitors are urged to think outside the box, but to remember that the box must still be buildable at an affordable price,” according to the contest sponsors. “To serve as a catalyst for the sustainable rebuilding process, this competition asks participants to address several components of neighborhood design, including housing, community facilities and planning.” There are two stages to the competition. In the first stage, participants are asked to provide a sustainable urban design on a 1.25-acre site that focuses on a green, healthy multifamily housing building with community center features, along with siting of single-family homes and other environmental features. Submissions will be asked to achieve several sustainable design and green building goals, including net-zero energy goals (e.g., meeting all energy needs for buildings on the site through passive and active strategies). Competitors will provide an architectural design for the apartment complex/daycare center only, in this stage, and the deadline for submissions is July 6. In the second stage, three to six finalists identified from the first round will draw on their submissions, working with local architects and community groups, to create a plan for selected areas in different neighborhoods of the city. They will design single-family housing and a community facility in the neighborhood, as well as environmental and community features, and will receive $25,000 to complete this phase. In both stages, competitors are challenged to: - Demonstrate advanced yet achievable solutions for sustainable development and construction of each component of the design challenge
- Develop innovative, progressive architectural and planning solutions that respect and draw from the rich design heritage of New Orleans
- Incorporate the latest construction and energy-saving technologies
- Balance sustainability and affordability in a productive dialogue
Cash prizes totaling $25,000 will be awarded at the end of the second stage, with public presentations on Aug. 29.
The competition is open to architects, landscape architects, urban designers, engineers, industrial designers, artists and students. Entrants may submit as individuals or as a part of a team, and multi-disciplinary teams are encouraged. | 
