Queries

INQUIRIES CONCERNING THE DESIGN COMPETITION PROGRAM

WILL BE ACCEPTED

AFTER OCTOBER 1, 2009.

ANSWERS WILL BE POSTED FROM TIME TO TIME

UNTIL MARCH 1, 2010.

Posted 4 December 2009:

1. What is the mode of payment?

Mode of payment is personal check or money order included with your registration form. Alternatively, registration fee may be paid by international wire transfer. Specific instructions are posted on the Wire Transfer Info page under the Registration category. If money is wired, then registration forms may be scanned and sent over the internet.

2. I wish to know if it's possible to have site's planimetry in dwg, prospects, sections, and all material to project in dwg for CAD?

Yes, downloadable plans and elevations will be posted shortly.

3. We are two Spanish future competitors who don't know which category we must be registered. One of us finished architecture degree in July and the other one is architecture student. Can we enter in the student category or do we have to register as professional?

You should register as professional. Student category is defined as all participants are full time students in a degree granting program as of date of submission. If you are selected as a first stage winner, you will be required to prove you are students. Otherwise, you risk disqualification from further particpation.

4. I teach an architecture class at a Unversity. In March I would select three students to represent us in the competition, and submit projects with their names. Can I register now for three student registrations under my name?

Yes, you may do as you propose.

5. Please clarify the position in the program that there cannot be an entirely closed building. I realize neighbor reaction; however, there must be some design latitude.

Design latitude is at discretion of each competitor. However, due to various reasons including security, open structures have a better chance of passing regulatory reviews later in the process.

6. On the photo tagged "Boardwalk East View" there is a building with a green roof near the site. What is the purpose of that building?

The building with the green roof is a rest station located approximately 300 feet from the memorial site, which is currently an open covered pavilion.

7. The Design Considerations page includes this: "It will not be possible to receive approval for any enclosed building area." Is there a way to clarify this? Exactly what does "enclosed building" mean? Would an area with walls and entry/exit openings (without doors) be considered enclosed?

An "enclosed building area" to any significant extent would create zones which might not be observable from the predestrian boardwalk. Therefore, such a design would probably not be approved by regulatory and saftety agencies.

8. Is it possible to extend the project under the level of the boardwalk? If yes, how low can it be? Can it reach the dunes/ground?

The boardwalk is situated at the 10 year high water mark. Nonetheless, it may be possible to extend the proposed structure below the boardwalk elevation, as long as it stays on pilings above dunes/ground level.

9. I want to make sure that: the memorial wil be an open space (no door?) which can contain the function of conversatiion, seating, walking, and some educational or memorial activities; it should be lower than 60 feet and consider the seaside environemnt. The site is 40' x 60' just on the site of the pavilion now. As I know, there should be some zoning codes of this area; can you email me the link?

Yes, your summary is essentially correct. However, there is currently no link to zoning codes, but the page Design Considerations is based on a meeting with zoning officials. Once a design winner is chosen, he or she will have to go through the necessary zoning review process.

10. A.) Is it permitted to change the shape of the 40' x 60' rectangular deck if we stay with these dimensions? B.) Is it permitted to have the memorial cantilever over and beyond the 40' x 60' deck area? C.) Is it permitted to have an elevator (for handicap accessibility) enclosed with glass or surrounded with open metal mesh? D.) Is it permitted to put a few stones or other objects under the deck on the sand?

A.) No, footprint must remain the same. B.) While theorectically possible, this could possibly create certain problems with regulatory agencies. C.) Yes, an elevator is permitted but not required under New Jersey State building codes. Handicap accessibility should comply with Americans with Disability Act (ADA) guidelines. D.) Yes, it is okay to put stones or other objects under the deck on the sand.

11. Can the mass of the new memorial loom (at high level) towards the sea beyond the boundary below?

Yes, although the realization of the winning design will require strict regulatory approvals.

12. Wil it be possible to download high resolution site photos from the website? Additionally it would be helpful to have some more photos showing the outlook towards the sea and sides from standing inside the existing pavilion.

Sorry, there are currently no high resolution photos of the site available on the webpage. Be sure to click the link on our Site page for an excellent aerial satellite view provided by Microsoft's Bing.com.

13. According to the submission According to the submission guidelines, a maximum of only 4 renders of the submission is permitted. This seems to not really be enough to effectively convey key aspects of certain types of designs. For example, our design may include utlizing the the changing light conditions throughout the day so it would be important to show a particular view at different times. Simply illustrating this idea may require multiple renders. Is it possible to include more images or count multiple images of the same view throughout the day as single illustration? In addition, would an illustration of design detail or use of reference images (i.e. materials, textures, content imagery, etc.) be considered as an "image?"

In addition to four perspective views, you may include details and multiple renderings.

14. Descriptive Word Count Does the 150 word maximum include the label text for the illustrations? For example, is it possible to have a primary concept text statement of 150 words as well as brief text explanations underneath each illustration? Also, can the primary concept text statement be integrated with the primary jpeg submission?

Our jurors asked for separate pdf descriptions, presumably so they would be read only if the jpeg design is of interest to them.

15. If possible, I was after some panoramic photos, standing in the existing pavilion looking out towards the sea and to the sides. The view from the site looking out in all directions. I anticipate this is something that many entrants will want to have when they come to illustrate their ideas.Are you able to be more specific about the amount of overhead shelter that would be considered desirable?

We are working on adding views from the pavilion if enough queries. However, at boardwalk level, views of sea are obstructed by dunes. You can get a sense of the view from a higher level by viewing the link to aerial bird-eye view recently posted on the website. In general, 100% overhead shelter, at least on boardwalk level, would be desirable but not required.

16. What is the brief for overhead shelter within the site area? Is any required? If so, what rough percentage of the 40 x 60 foot site area be covered?

No specific requirement for overhead shelter, but it is desirable

17. Are there any storm and/or flooding issues? Has water ever risen as high as the platform of the existing pavilion? Even if not, is it likely this could happen?

Boardwalk height is at so-called 100 year flood level

18. Could you please advise if more detailed set of site information would be available in digital format (e.g. CAD files of site plan with topographical information, CAD files of plan & section of the existing pavilion, high resolution site photos, etc) for the participants to download in the near future? The current set of drawing and photos uploaded on the website provide very limited level of information, and I cannot seem to find drawings or photos to download from the current website. Would this detailed information become available once registered for the competition? Or are the participants expected to work from current set of information uploaded on the website even after the registration?

All available information is uploaded on the website.Be sure to check every page, especially those labelled "Site Plan" and "Site Drawings".Recently posted were additional site drawings and sections as well as a link to an aerial (birds-eye) view of the site.CAD files may be sent to finalists in the second stage of the competition but not the first stage.

19. How high can we buid?How deep into the ground?Can we change the Existing floors and railings?How close to the board walk can we put a wall?Do we have electricity or plumbing available?Are batrooms required?is security an issue?

60 feetboardwalk level onlyyes, existing floor and railings may be changedwall cannot extend into boardwalk pathwayyes, electricity and plumbing could be made availablebathrooms not required, since comfort station within 100 yards of pavilionsecurity is a big issue

20. I don¥t know if I undertand well: the memorial can¥t be extanded beyond the footprint of the pavilion, but we should consider the surounding area in the proyect, is it correct? And also how big would be this area to consider. I would also like to ask if there is any possibility to have the detailed map of the situation with the buildings nearest to the pavilion? Thank you vey much and waiting for the reply

Extent of surrounding area to be considered is up to the entrant in the first stage. Now posted on the website's pages are detailed drawings and an aerial view

21. 1. Is it permitted to relocate the proposed seating shown on the Detail of Plan View of Building Constraints? 2. Is it permitted to redesign the railing around the 40 x 60 area or is the existing railing to remain as is? 3. How high is the existing railing? 4. Is that Heineken beer can tower shown in the Site East View photograph going to remain?

1. Yes, proposed seating may be relocated, although some seating is expected.2. Yes, railing may be redesigned. Final plan must pass all applicable safety codes, of course.3. Rail is about four feet high.4. Beer can tower is temporary and will be gone.

22. First off, I was curious if the competition committee will be providing any digital copies of the AutoCad file or high resolution photos of the site. Some of the photos are excellent for use in the project but they are very low resolution and of unknown permission status from the photographer. If there is any secondary information that is provided to contestants we could greatly appreciate a digital copy

All information related to stage one of the competition is provided on our website at www.acbhm.org. Photos are permitted to be used in your submission

23. In Design Considerations - "Entrants are invited to consider the treatment of the surounding area, in order to create an appropriate setting and transition with its environment."Does this mean it is acceptable to consider some screening, for example, on the actual boardwalk?Additionally, whilst I feel the monument should have a sense of place; at the same time I am concerned about blocking the view through the site for the businesses at ground level. Is it necessary for the monument scheme to have a similar level of openness that the current pavilion has?

Yes, blocking the boardwalk is not desirable. One local engineer tells me that the DEP will probably prefer less than 25% screening. Of course, the winning design will need to go through all regulatory processes, and will quite frankly be subject to modification according to agency input.

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