Quote:
Originally Posted by calculoso
Definitely more of a Calgary influence, but at the same time providing a development opportunity for students in the city. What better opportunity to develop the next wave of architects / designers / etc than to have a real-life experience?
Professional architects / etc still need to start off somewhere. They can't just slap it down. Why not give them 20 (? - number of college submissions) possible 'looks' for a bridge as a starting point?
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If I understand you correctly, I believe that you are saying that by allowing kids, students, and others into the process of designing the bridge we could have: had a very locally inspired and driven design, allowed amateurs to communicate their unique ideas and solutions to the professionals, and provided much needed experience to bright eyed beginners. While brining the kids, students, and others into the design process would have allowed these things to occur, there already are avenues and channels present that do the exact same thing and in a better fashion.
I myself have been fortunate enough to use these channels that are more prevalent than you might think. During my university schooling I often had instructors or professors that worked at or with City Hall and on occasion I'd present a project that had a brilliant idea and my professors would pass on my idea, solution, or perspective to their colleagues at the City. In other classes, my professors would bring their City colleagues and other peers in during our presentations. This provided yet another way for our amateur products to permeate into the professional field. A third example is the Student category in the Mayor's Urban Design Awards. If a submission brings up great ideas or points, it can easily be circulated around City Hall.
In respect to Calgarians influencing the design of projects, that is what focus sessions and open houses are meant to do.
Lastly, allowing kids and students to help in the design process is an excellent way to give them experience and provide them with a direct line to communicate with professionals. Calatrava could have used this help in designing Peace Bridge, however, other pedestrian bridges could have used the help A LOT more and it wouldn't have posed as much of a hindrance to the important and highly complex project that is Peace Bridge. Instead, why don't we let the amateurs help design bridges like the one that crosses John Laurie between Brisebois and Charleswood? That one very dearly needed help! You might say that they need to have experience dealing with important matters and projects but, seriously, it's like having Backlund and McE start in the SCF. They need big game experience but this simply isn't the game.