Question & Answers.

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General   Selection Process   The Brief

Selection Process

Who is managing the panel selection process?

The selection process is being managed by the Architecture Foundation on behalf of the Lend Lease led consortium.

What is the selection process?

The selection of the panel will follow three phases:

  1. PRE-SELECTION
    Entries will be pre-selected by the Architecture Foundation, Lend Lease and First Base, with advice from Fletcher Priest Architects. This process will reduce the number of entries to be considered to approximately 150.
  2. JURY SESSIONS
    Following an initial assessment, the jury will review the selected entries and determine the Architectural Panel.
  3. ARCHITECTURAL PANEL CONFIRMED
    A panel of approximately 40 will be announced following appropriate referee checks.

Do I need to show experience of large scale schemes?

No, however practices which do not have appropriate experience may be asked to work with larger practices to deliver their projects.

As a smaller practice, can I realistically compete against the “big names”?

We are seeking to achieve a balance between the two. In some cases this will involve a collaborative approach, with smaller practices working alongside larger firms. This will enable us to deliver opportunities for a diverse range of practices to demonstrate their talents on a world stage, while at the same time realising projects of the highest quality.

Once the panel is confirmed, how will commissions be awarded?

Members of the panel will be short-listed for individual commissions by a Commissioning & Steering Group, with different elements of the project to be divided up into 20-30 individual commissions (for example, free standing buildings, urban blocks, town houses, pavilions). Practices short-listed for individual commissions will then be interviewed by the Commissioning & Steering Group and asked to respond to queries in relation to their original submissions and their technical and professional capabilities. Practices may also be requested to provide supplementary information as necessary.

Will non UK-based practices be given equal consideration?

Yes, however they must outline how they will represent themselves in the UK (e.g. partnering with a local practice) should they be offered a commission. It is not essential to provide confirmation of such arrangements at this stage.

What will be expected from the selected practices once the panel is announced?

Once the panel has been assembled, practices will begin to be interviewed for individual commissions and it is envisaged that they will at this time be asked to produce designs. Please note that while the first commissions will be confirmed in September, further commissions will be the subject of interviews and confirmations over the following months.