9/11 Monument Design Competition

The Town of Cornelius is sponsoring a professional design competition for a 9/11 Monument to be located at Fire Station #1 on Main Street in Cornelius, NC. The design competition is open to licensed architects or architectural firms, licensed landscape architects or landscape architectural firms, and experienced artists/designers located within the United States.

The purpose of the monument is to honor those who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks and those whose lives were impacted by the 9/11 events. The monument will also celebrate first responders and the US Military for their heroism after the attacks and offer a space for reflection and education on the impact of 9/11. The Town received a donation of a steel column salvaged from the Twin Towers after 9/11 from the Port Authority of New Jersey and New York. The column weighs approximately 3000lbs and measures approximately 96"x18"x12". The Town intends to construct a powerful 9/11 Monument using the steel column as the focal point, with a proposed opening ceremony date of September 11, 2016.

Design submissions are due no later than 5:00 P.M. on January 4, 2016. Entry fee is $40.00. Applicants may submit up to two separate design concepts. Work sample requirements: 3-7 images total, including 3 renderings of the monument design (one from main entry, one from Main Street, and one section from inside the monument). The 9/11 Project Committee has established a project construction cost of up to $100,000. All design submissions must be fully compliant with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), Town ordinances, codes and laws. The monument design should display the natural condition of the column without significant alteration, allow visitors to walk up and touch the steel, make the steel column the main focus, honor those who lost their lives and those impacted by 9/11, highlight first responders and the US Military, educate visitors on the events of 9/11, point the column towards New York City, integrate at least one flagpole for the US flag with lighting to illuminate the flag and steel column at night, include seating within the monument, and must not include any water feature or element requiring additional maintenance.

Winning awards: First Place $1,200.00, Second Place $800.00, Third Place $500.00. The committee intends to award the commission for the project to the first place winner. Following the announcement of the top 3 winners, the 9/11 Project Committee will interview the first place winner to ensure they have the ability to execute the project. A contract will be negotiated between the designer and the Town outlining scope of work, which will include development of architecturally sound drawings, creation of a budget, submission of bid options for materials and fabrication services, and overall management of the design, fabrication and installation process. Critical dates: Feb 1, 2016 - Recommendation of competition winners to Town Board; Feb 8, 2016 - Announcement of competition winners; Mar 2, 2016 - Final design and budget review; Mid-Mar 2016 - Proposed construction start date. For questions, contact [email protected] or call 704-896-8823 by December 21.