Monday, August 28, 2006
Carol L. Kim
443-8568

The Connective Corridor Design Competition moved closer to its conclusion today when the entries of the four finalist teams went on display at four locations in Syracuse. The concepts were officially unveiled at a morning press conference outside the National Grid New York Division Headquarters on Erie Boulevard West in downtown Syracuse. The finalist design teams are Deborah Berke & Partners and Olin Partnership; Field Operations with Clear; the Rockwell Group; and Sasaki Architects. They were chosen from a field of 10 applicants. Each team includes architects, urban planners, civil engineers and other design professionals. The competition, sponsored by National Grid, will result in the selection of a final design team that will be recommended to Syracuse Mayor Matthew J. Driscoll to create the final design vision for the Connective Corridor. The winner will be announced later this fall. The concepts will be on display at the following locations:

• National Grid New York Division Headquarters, 300 Erie Blvd. West Aug. 28-Sept. 24, (viewable in windows facing Franklin Street)
• The Everson Museum of Art Aug. 28-Sept. 24, (Tuesday-Friday and Sunday noon-5 p.m. with special hours from noon-5 p.m. on Aug. 28)
• Marshall Square Mall Aug. 30-Sept. 19, (9 a.m.-9 p.m.)
• The Warehouse Aug. 28-Sept. 8, (9 a.m.-5 p.m.)
• Syracuse Stage: Sept. 11-24, (noon-5 p.m.)

Technology partner Time Warner Cable has joined the project to offer features such as interactive kiosks, Internet connectivity and public service announcements. Kiosks available at the viewing sites will enable the public to learn more about the process and offer comments.

The design teams will make public presentations at a Sept. 21 symposium at the Everson. The selection committee will then evaluate the concepts. Serving on the committee are: Kathleen Callahan and Van Robinson, at-large members of the Syracuse Common Council; Tim Carroll, director of city operations; Maxine Griffith, former executive director of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission and the City of Philadelphia’s secretary for strategic planning; Marilyn Higgins, vice president for economic development for National Grid; Mark Robbins, dean of the SU School of Architecture; Mary Robison, Syracuse city engineer; and Marilyn Jordan Taylor, partner-in-charge for urban design and planning for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP.

The Connective Corridor is a community-wide project to create a center for the arts and culture in Syracuse by designing a landscape and transit system to link the people and activities of the University Hill and downtown. When completed, the corridor will feature a vibrant pedestrian and bicycle pathway with distinctive landscaping, lighting, benches, historical information and public art spaces. An accompanying public shuttle bus route will be offered free of charge to riders commuting between cultural venues, shops, hotels and Syracuse University.

The Connective Corridor is being created through a combination of public and private funds. U.S. Rep. James Walsh has secured $5.36 million in federal transportation funding for the initiative. U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton have secured $4 million in federal transportation funding for the Corridor project and an additional $4 million for the construction of an intermodal facility at the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems. National Grid is supporting the project as lead corporate partner with a $1 million economic development grant.