Premier Statement: Competition to reconstruct CityCat terminals heats up

[ozbob]

Premier and Minister for Reconstruction
The Honourable Anna Bligh
08/06/2011

Competition to reconstruct CityCat terminals heats up

Premier Anna Bligh today said the State and Federal Government's bid to reconstruct Brisbane's CityCat terminals was heating up with the three shortlisted finalists announced today.

The Premier said competition was fierce for this once-in-a-generation opportunity to design terminals that will become a truly distinctive part of the River City's landscape.

"The bid to rebuild our CityCat terminals as icons of this proud River City got off to a flying start.

"We received 65 Expressions of Interest from firms across the state, the nation and around the world.

"This is great news for Brisbane and just goes to highlight the significance of this project," Ms Bligh said.

"The objective was that designers and architects from firms large and small would be keen to produce innovative designs for resilient and truly memorable ferry terminals, and they certainly were.

"A judging panel, headed by the State Government Architect Philip Follett, has narrowed the 65 to a shortlist of three.

The Premier said the three successful teams shortlisted for the competition all demonstrated a collaborative design approach, teamed with impressive engineering know-how.

"They combined knowledge and experience with youthful exuberance and vision.

"And while all demonstrated an understanding of the competition's objectives each team offered varying approaches to resolving the key issues including; practicality, flood resilience and value for money.

"What's more, all of the three shortlisted teams include Brisbane based local architects.

"So they bring to the competition a strong and comprehensive local knowledge.

The next stage will see the three teams work up full design concepts to be delivered in early July, with the winner announced later that month.

"Of course we also want to provide Queenslanders with the opportunity to provide their feedback on the final three designs," Ms Bligh said.

The Premier, who launched the competition with Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan in April, said the CityCat terminal rebuild would be jointly funded by the State and Commonwealth Governments.

"Although this is infrastructure that wouldn't normally be funded by National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements, we understand how vital the ferry terminals are to Brisbane's transport network, which is why the State and Commonwealth Governments stepped in to fund their rebuild.

"We know the rebuilding and reconstruction road ahead of us is a long one," Ms Bligh said.

"But we also have the opportunity, where we can, to build back better.

"I am really looking forward to seeing the final three designs.

"Just like the Metro stations of Paris became an icon of that city at the turn of the century - we have the opportunity to rebuild our ferry terminals as immediately recognisable features of our city's exceptional landscape."

The three finalists are:

·Second Nature Collaborative (Candalepas, Owen&Vokes, Richards&Spence Architects) with ARUP

·Shane Thompson Architects & LAT27 with ARUP

·Cox Rayner Architects / Alexander Lotersztain (Derlot)

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[Gazza]

I'll betcha Cox Rayner will win