Terms of Reference

Innovation Integration

ImplementationTHE i3 CHALLENGE

1.0 Overview

Innovation integration implementation

Many university students may not consider the legacy they leave behind when a world of texts, exams and term papers is replaced with the responsibilities and challenges of a new ca-reer. In fact, amongst a Waterloo community of thousands, the opportunity to affect a lasting change to campus life is reserved for those students who have the courage to make their voic-es heard. The University of Waterloo and its community sponsors, in cooperation with the Fac-ulty of Environment, are excited to announce the i3 Challenge: An initiative for the develop-ment of inspiring academic environments, through innovative student solutions. This challenge is intended to solicit creative and exceptional concepts for the entrance to the University of Waterloo’s South Campus. Over the span of six months, interdisciplinary teams of Waterloo students will compete in a three stage challenge that will advance the South Gateway vision established by the recent Campus Master Plan. An independent jury of Waterloo stakehold-ers and professionals from the Waterloo Region will award prizes to the top four submissions, with the official announcement scheduled for May 10th, 2011. In addition to an award of $1500, the winning team will have a $100,000 implementable project from their proposal built by the University of Waterloo.

Stage one

Stage Two

Stage three

Teams register and submit initial Gateway

concept for selection by the Selection

Commitee.

Ten semi-finalists refine Gateway concepts for submission to the Jury.

Three finalists submit a design model and a report documenting

specific features, phasing and cost estimates for the

‘implementable project’

2.0 BackgroundThe University of Waterloo is one of Canada’s fastest growing universities and is a leader in the delivery of outstanding undergraduate and graduate training. Serving as a major hub in Waterloo Region’s technology triangle, UW’s South Campus is adjacent to Research in Motion’s main corporate offices and research labs, as well as several other high technology enterprises. While research and training programs carried out on the South Campus continually garner national and international acclaim, aspects of the campus environment, including the primary University Avenue entrance, are dated and do not reflect the University’s continued commitment to excellence. As a gateway, the University Avenue entrance does not generate an identity befitting the successes our university has enjoyed, nor does it serve as a wayfinding aid to orient visitors within the broader campus.

In 2007 consultants were retained to prepare a Campus Master Plan for the redevelopment and growth of North and South Campus. While this process generated an exciting vision for the future of our campus, given the broad nature of the Master Plan it is recognized that detailed designs addressing the specific functional and aesthetic needs of the South Gateway are still required. Successful submissions to the i3 Challenge will embody the University’s spirit of innovation and creativity, will enhance the Gateway’s visual presence and function as a key wayfinding node, will respect the foundation established by the Campus Master Plan, will incorporate innovative principles from the fields of urban design, architecture, engineering and ecology, and will meet the technical and financial constraints set out by the i3 Challenge Committee.

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3.0 The SiteThe area for which proposals are requested is identified in the map below. This area includes the following:

• The public-right-of-way along University Avenue between Westmount Avenue and Phillip Street, and along Seagram Drive between the northern boundary of Waterloo Park, traversing University Avenue and extending to South Campus Hall.

• Parking Lots H, HV, C and their adjoining green spaces.

4.0 Design BriefThe recent Campus Master Plan recognizes design excellence as the cornerstone of the South Campus transformation, placing special emphasis on the importance of creating a distinctive gateway to the University. In recognition of this, the i3 Challenge is seeking student proposals for creative and innovative concepts that promote a legible environment and that inspire a memorable first impression of the campus. Through this challenge students will have the opportunity to not only enhance the image and function of the campus in a tangible way, but also to interact with colleagues from other faculties who share the same passion for improving the lives of the Waterloo community. The following points set out considerations and requirements that teams must address and/or respond to in their submissions.

The ‘implementable project’ must fall within the Gateway Core Area and must be phased as a short term initiative.

The Gateway Vision Area should be the focus of projects

intended to be phased in over the medium or

long term.

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Identity

• Embody the University of Waterloo’s image as a hub for the development of high technology and as a centre for creativity, innovation and excellence in education and research.

• Acknowledge the local geographic, cultural and historical context of Waterloo Region.

• Identify areas where interpretive, interactive or commemorative elements can be incorporated.

Existing Content

• Acknowledge the vision established by the Campus Master Plan and build on the foundation this process has established.

• Identify strategies to improve the visual relationship and pedestrian/cycling linkages between South Campus and Waterloo Park.

Sustainability

• Represent best practices of sustainability by quantifying implications for energy and resource use at the point of construction and through the lifecycle of the project.

Non-Motorized Access

• Integrate the safe movement of pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles through the South Gateway site without introducing obtrusive signalization.

• Focus on ‘smart’ solutions as a means of directing pedestrians and cyclists from areas outside the main site, to areas intended for safe and efficient crossing.

Wayfinding

• Include entrance features along University Avenue that are large enough to have a visual impact and clear enough to promote legibility along a busy arterial corridor.

• Include entrance features along the Seagram Drive corridor that are illuminated for night visibility and that incorporate creative solutions to enhance visitor wayfinding.

Accessibility

• Incorporate innovative principles and techniques that ensure physical, sensory and cognitive accessibility at the University’s primary entrance.

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5.0 TEAM STRUCTUREIn addition to soliciting creative ideas that address the requirements outlined above, the i3 Challenge is keenly focused on promoting the development of interdisciplinary solutions. By tapping the diversity of expertise across UW’s six faculties, the collaborative search for our ideal campus gateway will move past the type of single discipline solutions that hinder true innovation. While the challenge is design focused, any student who is affiliated with the University of Waterloo and is interested in art, architecture, urban design, planning, sustainability or engineering is encouraged to participate. To promote a mixing of ideas and expertise, teams must meet the following criteria:

• Be comprised of between three to six members.• Include members representing at least two different faculties.• Include no more than three members from any one faculty.• Include no more than two Graduate students

6.0 CHALLENGE StructureAs summarized in the introduction, the i3 Challenge is comprised of three stages that will iteratively narrow the field of participants down to four finalists. Requirements and procedures for the first stage of the challenge are described in full detail below. As only ten teams will be selected to compete in stage two, a limited number of details regarding stage two and three are provided at this time.

Stage One: Entering the i3 Challenge

To participate in the i3 Challenge each team must have all members complete an online registration form (http://innovate.uwaterloo.ca/) by midnight on December 15th, 2010. Once registered, teams will have approximately six weeks to prepare and submit their stage one concepts to the address in Section 9.0 (deliverables outlined below). The official deadline is 4:30 pm on February 1st, 2011. As indicated in the site diagram in Section 3.0, concept submissions will focus on two separate areas:

The Gateway Core Area is the most strategic component in the South Gateway transformation. Proposed initiatives that fall within this area will be described in detail, and should include projects that would be carried out immediately or over the next three years. Each teams’ *implementable project must be located within this area.

The Gateway Vision Area, although less central to the University Avenue entrance, is the key to creating a campus gateway that is effectively integrated into the surrounding urban context. Proposed initiatives for this area should be described in more general terms, and will focus exclusively on projects that have either a three, or ten year implementation horizon.

Each team’s stage one report must include their registration number in the upper right hand corner of the cover page. To maintain anonymity, no other identifying mark should be included. Competing teams will have the opportunity to ask questions prior to the submission deadline. All questions will be submitted to the e-mail address in Section 9.0 by 4:30pm on January 14th, 2011. Responses to each question will be posted, with the original question, on the i3 Challenge website the following Friday.

*Note: The i3 Committee has intentionally placed few restrictions on what an implementable project might be. Teams are encouraged to put forward any idea that reflects the innovative spirit of the i3 Challenge. That said, teams will demonstrate that their proposed idea can meet three general criteria:

1. It directly addresses one, or several, of the elements outlined in the Design Brief (Section 4.0).2. It recognizes the general vision established by the recent Campus Master Plan.3. If implemented within a budget of $100 000, it will have a meaningful impact on the identity or function of the South Gateway.

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Deliverables

• One online registration form from each team member.• One spiral bound report (Maximum 11” x 17” tabloid) containing the graphic and

written components listed below. The report will be between five and eight pages, including all visual content and front matter (e.g. cover page, table of contents, etc.).

• One CD containing a digital copy of the report.

Written Components (ALL written components are mandatory)1. A statement describing your team’s broad vision for the South Gateway. This vision

statement should clearly portray the ‘brand’ that your concept will develop for the university.

2. A description of the relationship between the gateway, South Campus and the surrounding urban context. This description should identify the primary users of the South Gateway and outline how your team’s vision meets the needs of this diverse group of clients.

3. A description of the character, quality and function of KEY design elements/technological features that illustrates how they fulfill the requirements of the Design Brief.

4. A general description of initiatives proposed for the gateway vision area, including a brief discussion of their phasing.

5. A detailed description of initiatives proposed for the gateway core area, including the implementable project, and a brief discussion of their phasing.

Graphic Components (The following list of graphic components is not mandatory or exhaustive. Teams may use any combination of these and/or other graphics to facilitate the communication of their proposal)

1. A function diagram, at an appropriate scale, that includes: • The site boundary• The surrounding context (including UW buildings and the Waterloo Park Boundary)• The location of specific design elements (e.g. hard and soft landscape features)• Any proposed road, pedestrian and/or cycling infrastructure.

2. Architectural concept drawings or precedent photos that illustrate the general character of proposed structures. (Elevations and cross sections must be at a scale of 1:100.)

3. An illustration or precedent photos of specific design elements (e.g. benches, lighting, materials).

*Note: Imagery and reports must be at a resolution of 300 dpi.

Stage Two: i3 Challenge Semi-Finals

Ten design teams will be selected by the i3 Challenge Committee to participate in stage two.

Teams will refine their initial concepts based on committee feedback, as well as comments solicited from the UW community during a one week public engagement campaign.

Stage two submissions will contain all materials from stage one, plus 3D illustrations of the design proposal and a detailed description of project phasing.

Each semi-finalist team will receive an honorarium of $500 to cover costs incurred by participation in stage two of the challenge. Any funds that are not spent will be divided equally between team members as a reward for reaching the semi-finals.

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7.0 Challenge Timeline

Stage Three: i3 Challenge Finals

Four teams will be selected by the i3 Challenge Jury to participate in stage three.

Teams will refine their submissions based on comments provided by a technical review panel. Stage three submissions will contain all materials from stage two plus a digital or physical 3D model of the concept proposal.

In addition to the detailed description of phasing, teams will complete a comprehensive cost estimate for their ‘implementable project’, as well as a life cycle assessment of energy and resource use for the entire concept.

Each finalist team will submit a team-building component outlining the experiences and lessons gained by participating in the i3 Challenge. There will be no specific format required for this component, but teams should keep in mind that submissions will be displayed during the final awards gala, making a visual format preferable. Presentations will contribute to the final competition results and will be assessed by the jury.

Each finalist team will receive an honorarium of $1000 to cover costs incurred by participation in stage three of the challenge. Any funds that are not spent will be divided equally between team members as a reward for reaching the finals.

The i3 Challenge Committee

The i3 Challenge Committee administers the event. In addition to overseeing its processes and budget, the Committee will select and provide advice to the ten teams moving on to stage two. With the exception of the Committee Chair, the Committee will not participate in or provide direction to the Jury on the selection of proposals for stage three, nor the selection of the winning submission.

The Chair of the Committee serves as the Jury Chair. The role of the Chair is to ensure that the Jury’s deliberations proceed in an orderly manner. Prior to the adjudication process, if a Jury member becomes unable to attend a scheduled jury meeting, after consulting with the i3 Challenge Committee, the Chair may appoint a new juror to take his/her place. The Jury shall act in accordance with the jury process, described below, to assess the submissions and select a winning proposal.

The i3 Challenge Jury

Members of the i3 Challenge Committee will appoint a Jury to review and evaluate the submissions during stage two and three of the challenge. The evaluation of submissions for this challenge is anonymous. The Jury will not receive any information regarding the authorship of entries submitted. Registrants may not communicate with the Jury in any way prior to the final announcement of the winning submissions from stage three. Any registrant or juror found in violation of this rule will be withdrawn from the challenge immediately.

The Jury is the sole authority to select the proposals that will advance to stage three, as well as to rank the winning proposals at the end of the challenge. Through the Chair, the Jury’s scoring, comments and recommendations will be forwarded to the Committee.

The Jury will meet in person to evaluate the submissions according to the evaluation criteria established by the Committee. In the event that not all Jury members are present at a scheduled Jury meeting, the Jury evaluations will still proceed, providing a minimum of five Jury members are present. Jury decisions will be made by consensus or majority vote if consensus cannot be reached. These decisions will be based on their expertise, the work submitted by challenge registrants, evaluation criteria established by the Committee, comments from the Technical Review Panel, and comments submitted from the broader University of Waterloo community through the engagement campaign. After reaching a decision in stages two and three, the Jury will write a report explaining its decision. The report will be delivered to the Committee for review and subsequently provided to challenge registrants and members of the campus community through the challenge website. In the event of a Jury decision that none of the submissions meet challenge expectations, the Jury may recommend that no submission be accepted.

Technical Review Panel

A Technical Review Panel will review the four submissions selected by the Jury to advance to stage three. The Panel’s role is to provide an objective appraisal of the technical, policy and financial implications of the proposals, and to provide advice to the teams. The Panel will include two representatives of the Plant Operations Department of the University of Waterloo and two representatives from the Development Services Department of the City of Waterloo.

The Panel is independent from the Jury and is not affiliated with any of the challenge registrants. The Panel will not take part in the Jury’s evaluation process nor will it have the right to disqualify an entry.

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8.0 Competition Adjudication

9.0 Contact informationMail:

i3 ChallengeSchool of PlanningFaculty of EnvironmentEV1-325200 University Avenue WestWaterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1

Website:

innovate.uwaterloo.ca

Email:

i3.challenge@uwaterloo.ca

Twitter:

@i3Challenge

Facebook:

facebook.com/i3challenge

Innovation integration implementation Innovation integration implementationLast Updated

December 3rd, 2010. 12:00