-By Adam Figman

The 2009 summer season at Governors Island, located right off the coast of lower Manhattan, saw an island-record 275,000 visitors, a number that many hope is topped in 2010. As one of the island’s key cultural associates, FIGMENT has linked up with The Emerging New York Architects Committee of the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter (ENYA) and the Structural Engineers Association of New York (SEAoNY) to sponsor a contest to design the City of Dreams Pavilion, an architectural pavilion for the upcoming summer where these guests may meet, learn about the island’s arts programs, or enjoy a performance or lecture.

The theme of the competition takes a look forward: What’s in store for New York City’s future?  The contest demands that contestants consider sustainability and efficiency when they submit their designs, keeping in mind the use of building materials from start to finish.  The resources used in the building of the pavilion should be “borrowed,” meaning they’ve been taken from existing construction sites or may be returned and re-used after the season when the structure is taken apart. 

Entrants must include: where their materials will come from, how their structures will be transported to the site, how the construction’s waste will be removed, and where the resources will go after the season is over.  Essentially, the goal is to create a pavilion with zero net impact that benefits the island’s guests and helps re-think the way design will be approached in the future.

Other requirements include a budget that covers all costs from beginning to end, the ability to bring all materials to the island on the Coursen Ferry (12’6” clearance), design approval by the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation (GIPEC), the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), and the NYC Department of Buildings prior to construction, and the need for a pavilion that is freestanding and able to hold 50 or more people.

The competition closes February 16 (with a February 8 registration deadline) at figmentproject.org/pavilion.  After a group of finalists are chosen, a winner will be selected on April 15, and construction will begin May 5.  The jury will consider feasibility, buildability, adherence to theme, innovation and impact in its selection process.