January 2010
CONTACT: Don Wittmer (312) 930-9119 e-mail dwittmer@hntb.com
Bill Knight (703) 684-2889 bknight@futurecity.org
Regional Finals in "Future City CompetitionTM" Just Around the Corner
In conjunction with NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEKTM (NEW), Chicago engineering societies are hosting a student design competition for area schools. The contest, known as the “Future City CompetitionTM", requires 7th, 8th grade students with the assistance of an engineer mentor and teacher to design a future city with the aid of the award winning computer game, SimCity 4 DeluxeTM from Maxis.
Right now students are nearing completion of their Future City Models and finishing an essay on "Providing An Affordable Living Space For People Who Have Lost Their Home Due to a Disaster or Financial Emergency”.
On Saturday, January 16, 2010 teams from more than 25 Chicago area schools will meet at the University of Illinois Chicago, 750 South Halsted. (The event is open to the public)
Dozens of Chicago area engineers (and architects) will review the Future City Models and listen to presentations as students present their Vision of the Future. After review by the preliminary judges five teams will be selected for additional evaluation by a panel of judges including. Besides the models, students will be graded on their posters and essay. There will be a host of special awards presented to the teams including “Most Livable City” offered by the Chicago Chapter of AIA, “The Most Innovative Structures” given by the Structural Engineers of Illinois, “The Best High-Rise Building” by the Chicago Committee on High-Rise Buildings, and several awards from the American Society of Civil Engineers, including “Best Transportation System”, “Best Future City” and “Best Planned Zoning”. The Society for Marketing Professional Services will present an award the “Best Future City Promotion”. Almost 30 ‘Special Awards’ will be handed out!
Even the students will take part in the competition, selecting amongst the rival teams as to what they consider to be the Best Future City. Judging of the projects will begin 8:30 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m. The winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony beginning about 3:00 p.m. The student models will be on display until the conclusion of the awards ceremony. The public is invited and encouraged to see the vision of the future as seen by some of Chicago’s best/brightest 7th and 8th grade students. There is no cost to attend.
Students from Chicago area schools will be competing for the top prize. The winning school will receive prizes and trophies for the team members. All participants will receive gifts courtesy of the Chicagoland Engineers Week Committee and local engineering/architecture firms. In addition, team members from the winning school will advance to the final judging in Washington, DC. at the Hyatt Regency Capital Hill from February 15-17. The winner of the national competition will receive a week's trip to Space Camp. Top teams from the Regional Competition will be honored at the Annual Chicagoland Engineers Benefit, February 19, 2010.
Supplemental resources:
For information on the Chicago winners see photos and additional info @ www.futurecitychicago.org
Check this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRY3pnR-SwQ
2009 Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10752828@N05/sets/72157614572357964/
2009 EWEEK Photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/10752828@N05/sets/72157614567197278/
2009 Future City Finals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK73Oln3zGk
2008 Story and video http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=76389
And for [2008] pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10752828@N05/sets/72157603878323166
2008 EWEEK Photos (Including Future City)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10752828@N05/sets/72157604569050537
“Scientists discover the world that exists; engineers
create the world that never was."
— Theodore von Karman