Waller Creek Conservancy Announces "Design Waller Creek: A Competition" Stage I Results, Participants for Stage II

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Waller Creek Conservancy announced today the results for Stage I of "Design Waller Creek: A Competition." Out of 31 submissions, nine design teams were selected by a jury of five esteemed design experts and will continue on to the next stage of the competition.

"The jury and the Conservancy are indebted to the teams that submitted their thoughtful and complete portfolios regarding 'Design Waller Creek' and want to extend a heartfelt thank you to each participant. The Conservancy's Governance Group reviewed the recommendations of the jury, confirmed that the evaluation process was executed in adherence to the selection procedures, and has directed that the following teams be invited to participate in Stage II," Melba Whatley, president of the Waller Creek Conservancy, said.

The lead design teams chosen by the independent jury to advance to Stage II:

• Burgos & Garrido Arquitectos and Miro Rivera Architects
• Civitas and BIG New York City
• CMG and Public Architecture
• James Corner Field Operations and SHoP
• !melk and Page Southerland Page
• Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates and Thomas Phifer & Partners
• Stoss Landscape Urbanism and Saucier & Perrotte
• Turenscape and Lake | Flato Architects
• Workshop: Ken Smith Landscape Architect, Ten Eyck Landscape Architects and Rogers Marvel Architects

"Through the competition process, we enlisted the leaders in urban landscape, innovation, sustainable design, theory and practice," Donald J. Stastny FAIA FAICP FCIP, competition manager of "Design Waller Creek: A Competition," said.  "The submittals help to define the design challenge and inform the jury and Conservancy about an appropriate mix of design professionals to undertake this complex task. We find within the teams a very strong promise of collaboration and experience in 'integrated' design—how different disciplines come together to share talents and skill sets to create environments that are not only functional and sustainable, but contribute to raising the human experience."

In Stage II, the lead designers must assemble complete integrated design teams that are capable of executing the project. To assist in this effort, the Conservancy will host a networking session to provide an opportunity to local consultants and contractors, including small, women- and minority-owned and small, disadvantaged businesses, to meet with the nine lead design teams for potential opportunities to team up during Stage II of the competition. The networking event will be held February 28, 2012 at the Palm Door on 401 Sabine Street from 10 a.m. to noon.

The lead designers will decide who and which disciplines they choose to include, with a focus on the design phase as opposed to construction. The target audience for the networking session includes architects and landscape designers; civil, structural and MEP engineers; cost consultants; project/program management; urban planning and design, and specialty design consultants.

"Waller Creek presents a unique landscape challenge and we will see some incredible teams formed to respond to this challenge in the next phase," Stephanie Lee McDonald, executive director of the Waller Creek Conservancy, said. "This process, the first of its kind for Austin, has been thrilling and we are eager to see the work of the teams selected to advance to Stage II."

About the Waller Creek Conservancy
Leveraging philanthropic leadership with local government, the Waller Creek Conservancy is a community partner to the City of Austin through a public-private partnership. Its goal is to serve as the steward of Waller Creek by playing a vital role in the preservation, redevelopment, and maintenance of the creek's surrounding parks, nearby businesses, adjoining neighborhoods, and community at large. The Waller Creek Conservancy, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit, was founded in 2010 by Tom Meredith, former chief financial officer of Dell, Inc.; Melba Whatley, who runs MDW Interests, a private oil, gas, and real estate investment firm, and Melanie Barnes, a philanthropist and lawyer. For more information about the Waller Creek Conservancy, please visit www.wallercreek.org.

For More Information:
Stephanie Lee McDonald, 512-350-7021 (m)

SOURCE Waller Creek Conservancy