PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, JANUARY 24, 2011
CONTACTS: Bryan Bell, bryan@designcorps.org
Emily Axtman, emily@designcorps.org
WEBSITES: http://www.designcorps.org/sfi-conference
http://www.designcorps.org/sfi/winners
www.seednetwork.org
SEED Awards demonstrate that new Public Interest Design field has emerged to be presented at conference in Chicago, March 25-27, 2011 School of the Art Institute of Chicago
The Social Economic Environmental Design Competition (SEED) Design Awards, an international competition focusing on Public Interest Design, were announced today. Six projects were selected and will be presented at the Structures for Inclusion conference in Chicago, Friday through Sunday, March 25, 26 and 27. The three regional projects and three international projects highlight the important role design can perform in the public’s interest, and show that a renewed interest in contributing through architecture has reached a critical mass.
The six SEED Award Winners are: Café 524 in Pittsburgh, PA; Congo Street Initiative in Dallas, TX; Studio H in Bertie County, NC; Growing Home in Chicago, IL; Inspiration Kitchen East Garfield Park in Chicago, IL; St. Joseph Rebuild Center in New Orleans, LA.
These projects demonstrate how design is playing a role in addressing the most critical issues around the globe today: job creation, hunger, education, disaster relief, and the environment.
Jurors were very impressed with the rigor and level of community engagement displayed by the submissions, and decided to recognize an additional six Honorable Mentions. Juror Monica Chadha said:
We truly enjoyed the high caliber of entries. The winning submissions showcase not only how to work collaboratively but also how to create sustaining work by engaging all of the constituents. These projects are having high impact with an economy of means: much more is being done with much less. The projects show that the community/designer teams are aligned with the SEED vision to create a socially, economically and environmentally healthy community for all.The Honorable Mention recipients are: Butaro District Hospital in Butaro, Rwanda; Girubuntu Primary School in Butaro, Rwanda; Lydia Street Alley Flat in Austin, TX; Rehabilitation of Bhaldi Village in Bhuj India; Roche Health Center in Roche, Tanzania; Student Organic Farm in Clemson, SC.
Each project had to go through the critical SEED application to ensure that the community was involved in setting the goals for the project and in developing the design solution.
Structures for Inclusion Conference
Structures for Inclusion (SFI) is the eleventh conference in an annual series covering the role of architects as a change agent in overcoming the most pressing social, economic and environmental challenges of the world today. SFI goes beyond the green design movement to include the social and economic impacts of design.
SFI 10 + 1 will bring together design professionals and students, community activists and nonprofit organizations alike. The three day conference will cover questions such as: How do we make positive change happen through design? SFI 10 + 1 will challenge participants to take action in their own school, practice and community to be agents of change.
The Competition is being organized by the Social Economic Environmental Design Network and Design Corps.
Sponsored by:
The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The Enterprise Foundation and the SFI 10+1 Committee.
For more information, go to http://www.designcorps.org/sfi-conference or contact:
Bryan Bell, Executive Director Emily Axtman
Design Corps Design Corps
919-637-2804 919-641-1368
2243 The Circle 2243 The Circle
Raleigh, NC 27608 Raleigh, NC 27608
