Spokane Mayor's Urban Design Awards

2011 Mayor's Urban Design Awards

The Mayor’s Urban Design Awards recognize and thank people who contribute to Spokane’s quality of life and help implement the City’s Comprehensive Plan through good urban design. The awards will highlight the importance of creative thought, technical proficiency, and the relationship of good urban design to our city’s economic health and overall well-being. These bi-annual awards will be announced by the Mayor during a Spokane City Council meeting. Award winners will receive a Certificate of Recognition and be showcased on the City’s Urban Design website.

Qualifications to Enter

An urban environment is made up of many elements including buildings, bridges, streets, sidewalks, parks, plazas, nature corridors, trees and public art. So ANY project in the Spokane region—large or small, public or private—is eligible for submission and will be considered if it meets the following criteria:

  • Completed between January 1, 2005, and August 1, 2011 and has not been previously submitted.
  • Can be judged against some or all of the “15 Qualities of Good Urban Design in Spokane” which are consistent with Comprehensive Plan objectives and “Smart Growth” principles.
  • Contributes to the City of Spokane’s quality of life.

Entry Submittal Categories

Within Spokane City Limits:

  • Completed Projects
  • Visions and Master Plans

Regional:

  • Completed Projects
  • Visions and Master Plans

Regional projects must be located in the Spokane Region and clearly contribute to the City of Spokane’s quality of life. Examples might include projects located outside the City limits that have been designed to protect the Spokane River, Spokane-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, transportation projects, or recreation/tourism projects that directly benefit citizens of the City of Spokane.

Levels of Awards for Entries Submitted

  • “Mayor’s Choice Award” - highest honor for overall urban design excellence.
  • “Urban Design Merit Award” - distinguished work in meeting specific criteria for good urban design.
  • “People’s Choice Award” - all entries will be displayed for 3 weeks at River Park Square, thus giving the public an opportunity to vote for their favorite submitted design.

Spokane Design Review Board Special Acknowledgements

In addition to the awards for submitted projects, Spokane’s Design Review Board (DRB) will also nominate projects for special recognition by the Mayor. The categories for these DRB Special Acknowledgements will be:

  • “Creative Citizen(s)” - person or group whose work has enhanced Spokane’s urban fabric.
  • “Heritage Project” - a design that has significantly contributed to Spokane’s quality of life.
  • “Shrinking Lilac” - when it becomes apparent to the DRB that the designer/developer was too modest to submit excellent work.

Judging

The City of Spokane’s Design Review Board will develop recommendations to the Mayor who will make the final selections for the Mayor’s Choice and Urban Design Merit Awards. The identities of applicants will be concealed until all judging is complete. Jurors will not review projects with which they’ve been involved.

Use this link to view the registration forms (469 KB) and Call for Entries flyer/15 Criteria of Good Urban Design (979 KB) or visit the 3rd Floor, City Hall for paper copies.


For more information please contact:
Julie Neff, Urban Designer (509) 625-6082
Tami Palmquist (509) 625-6157