Many of us contributed ideas to Gallaudet University’s (GU) design competition for the 6th Street NE development project. This feedback will be provided to the four finalists recently selected to continue with the second phase of the design competition. These four finalists will engage the project’s diverse community of stakeholders in a series of interactive workshops to be held at Gallaudet University the week of October 19 and will submit their final design proposals by January 2016. You can read more about the competition and the firms selected for the shortlist here.

Recently GU also announced that they selected a new president to lead the university. Roberta Cordano will assume leadership of the university as Alan Hurwitz retires at the end of the year. We welcome her to the neighborhood and trust that the process to open gates between the university and the surrounding neighborhoods will continue under her guidance.

On September 16th Gallaudet University (GU) held an open community meeting to introduce the 6th Street and new Campus Gateway design competition and to explain how community members can be involved in the Shape Gallaudet process. GU owns parcels to the north and south of the Union Market building and warehouse. Those parcels and areas inside the GU fence along 6th Street (where garages and the motor pool are located along with other maintenance/grounds keeping spaces) are to be redeveloped with mixed-use space designated for retail, creative, cultural, and university use. 

While the focus is on the west side of campus, it is important for Trinidad residents to provide insights as GU works to redefine its urban edge and integrate more closely with the surrounding communities. We have opportunity to, or do, interact with the campus environment daily. We live next to, or are, current or former students or staff.

There are two ways to become involved. The first is to enter the competition with a design team. The second is to provide “ideas, inspirations, sketches, images, and videos… The finest of these will be used to inform the briefing to be given to the design teams shortlisted after the first stage.” You can find details on submitting Shape Gallaudet ideas or entering the design competition on the design competition website. The deadline for submissions is October 1, 2015. The more robust the input the more the final gateway design will reflect an open and inclusive character that integrates into the broader neighborhood.

A copy of the presentation is attached to provide additional information (Community Announcement PPT Final) and you can read the announcement here.