The competition began in March 2006 with the naming of the selection committee by Mayor Matthew J. Driscoll and Syracuse University Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor. Members of the committee were selected for their commitment to community service and their expertise in the fields of design and engineering.

In June 2006, the committee announced the four teams involved in the competition. The teams were given eight weeks to develop their vision of the Corridor using a list of key design considerations developed by the City of Syracuse and the community through a series of public sessions held in December 2005 and February 2006. These considerations included: transportation, technology, streetscape and landscaping improvements, arts and cultural programming, maintenance, lighting, green space, and history.

After the concepts were exhibited for four weeks, the design teams presented their work at a public symposium on September 21 at the Everson Museum of Art. The selection committee interviewed each of the teams before sending its recommendation to the mayor.

Timeline for the Design Competition:

Steps in Design Competition Process	Timeframe
Stage I: Request for Qualifications
Qualifications Due, Reviewed for Compliance	April 2006
Selection Committee Convenes and Selects Stage II Firms	May 2006
Stage II Firms Announced	June 2006
Stage II: Proposals
Kick-Off Meeting and Site Tour	June 2006
Firms Prepare Entries	June – August 2006
Entries Submitted	August 2006
Public Exhibition of Entries National Grid Headquarters Everson Museum of Art Marshall Square Mall The Warehouse Syracuse Stage	August – September 2006
Public Symposium, The Everson Museum of Art	September 2006
Stage III: Selection of Finalist
Final Interviews by Selection Committee	September 2006
Selection Committee Recommendation	October 2006
Finalist Announced	November 2006