ArchVoices, a non-profit organization and think tank on architectural education, internship and licensure, has announced its third annual essay competition for young professionals. The 2005 ArchVoices Essay Competition is intended to encourage, promote and reward critical thinking and writing two traditionally under-emphasized areas of architectural education and training.
Between February 11 and March 18, young professionals are invited to submit a 500-word essay proposal, reflecting on their daily experiences as the newest members and future leaders of the architecture profession. Selected semifinalists will be invited to develop a 2,000-word essay, further exploring the ideas from their first submittal. The 2005 competition jurors include:
*Maurice Cox, Loeb Fellow & Past Mayor of Charlottesville
*Jessica Farrar, Member, Texas House of Representatives
*Ambassador Richard Swett, FAIA, Former Congressman & US Ambassador to Denmark
*Jessical Wendover, Assoc. AIA, Rose Architectural Fellow
As in past years, the author of the first place essay will receive a cash prize of $981, equal to the base cost of the Architect Registration Exam (ARE), and a comprehensive set of ARE study materials, valued at over $1,500, compliments of Kaplan AEC Education. The author of the second place essay will receive an Apple iPod, compliments of Architosh. Up to five honourable mentions may also be conferred, and those honorees will receive prizes donated by John Wiley & Sons, Kaplan AEC Education, and Architecture magazine. The top ten finalists will receive a 1-year subscription to The Architect’s Newspaper, and all semifinalists will receive a copy of the 2005 Almanac of Architecture & Design, compliments of the Design Features Council. Additional Reader’s Choice winners selected by a public vote will receive book selections donated by Princeton Architectural Press. The 2005 competition is made possible by the additional generous support of the Boston Society of Architects, Cesar Pelli & Associates, Chong Partners Architecture, Dougherty+Dougherty, Einhorn Yaffee Prescott, HKS, and the University of Miami.
The competition will be conducted entirely online at www.archvoices.org/competition. The website provides the competition calendar and additional information on eligibility, submission guidelines, frequently asked questions, and writing resources.
The annual ArchVoices Essay Competition was launched in 2003, with the structure and theme developed entirely by a diverse group of interns who participated in the 2002 National Summit on Architectural Internship. Interns, non-registered architects, graduate students, and undergraduate students in their final year were eligible to participate. In 2004, its second year, 180 submissions were received from young professionals around the world, creating a unique and provocative dialogue about the future of the profession.
Denise Scott Brown, RIBA, principal of Venturi Scott Brown, was one of four distinguished architects to jury the 2004 competition. In reflecting on her jury experience, Ms. Scott Brown wrote: "Reading the finalist essays was a moving and humbling experience. They reminded me of a time in my own career. But these starting architects could articulate their position much more clearly than I could. It’s poignant that I would eventually do more in architecture than I was able to foresee then. I believe this will ring true for them too." In line with what would become the 2005 theme, fellow 2004 juror Shannon Kraus, AIA, an associate with HKS and 2005 AIA Vice President of the AIA, wrote: "I was particularly struck by those that looked beyond their own present struggles towards a vision of a profession that is more focused on community and the disciplines of architecture."
Founded in 1999, ArchVoices is an independent, non-profit organization and think tank on architectural education, internship and licensure. Best known for its weekly e-mail newsletter, which reaches over 15,000 members of the architecture profession, ArchVoices undertakes a number of initiatives each year. In 2005, ArchVoices’ unique work and role will be recognized with the Collaborative Achievement Award from the AIA.
E-mail editors@archvoices.org or call (510) 757-6213 for more information on the 2005 ArchVoices Essay Competition.