Envision Little Rock Competition Takes Next Step

Press Release:

2013 Envision Little Rock Design Competition, the first of its kind in Little Rock begins its esteemed jury panel judging in August at UALR Emerging Analytics Center this month. The public voting begins August 9^th at StudioMAIN during Second Friday Art Night. The competition is asking for the public’s input during the Second Friday event to vote on designs, which will be on display in the space. The public voting will be online as well and will determine which designs will receive one of three $250 awards sponsored by Arkansas AIA.

The Envision Competition kicked off last January with open registration for local designers, students, and the general public. The competition asked it’s over 40 participants to re-imagine a new iconic gateway for the city at the eastern end of Capitol Avenue and offered over $3500 in awards, $750 of which will be awarded by public voting.  After the designs are presented at StudioMAIN during August, they will make a trip down to the River Market area and then to Little Rock City Hall later this year.

The Envision Little Rock Competition was conceived by local Landscape Architect Bob Callans, as an ode to the 100 year anniversary of John Nolen’s 1913 Parks Master Plan for the City of Little Rock, which envisioned a gateway feature at the eastern end of Capitol Avenue. He commissioned StudioMAIN to assist in the development and presentation of the competition. Later this fall, the designs will be part of the centennial celebration of John Nolan’s Parks Plan, all of which is sponsored by the City of Little Rock, the LRCVB, and Keep Little Rock Beautiful.