YOUR FIRST SOURCE FOR ARCHITECTURE IN CHICAGO ONLINE

Google


www chicagoarchitecturetoday.com

 

 

WELCOME TO

MOCK FIRMS

STUDENT-BASED ARCHITECTURE ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION DESIGN COMPETITION

 2012 REGIONAL HOME DESIGN COMPETITION

 

 

"VERSATILITY"

 

 

 

THEME FOR 2012

Already, more than a decade into the 21st century, changes in technology are occurring so rapidly that one can feel like they are standing in a rushing stream of information and innovation. Yet, within the fields of architecture, construction and engineering, current economic conditions have down-scaled projects around the globe, However, in spite of the adverse financial climate which continues to hang like a gray cloud overhead, positive developments have come about in the design\build industry out of our need for better discipline in design.

 

Purposeful research and greater public awareness have brought an intense focus on sustainability, adaptability and “versatility.” Versatility is defined as having varied uses or serving many functions or capable of or adapted for turning easily from one to another of various tasks, fields of endeavor, etc. Tall buildings, for one, are being re-imagined as vertical communities with multi-use spaces and functions able to serve evolving needs and changing desires throughout its lifetime. With this in mind, “Versatility” was chosen as the theme for the 2012 Mock Firms Regional Home Design Competition.  

 

*                    *                    *

 

 

Entering its 4th year, the Chicago-based Mock Firms AEC Competition is already highly regarded on the landscape of student-based design competitions. The Mock Firms model aims to help facilitate the formation and function of simulated-architectural design firms by collegiate and secondary school students. The desired outcome is to foster collaborative and cooperative educational experiences which may better prepare participants for a workplace environment which values these and similar values. This competitive event continues to bring together some of the best and brightest talent from the U.S. and around the world. Additionally, these future design professionals are given the unique opportunity to interact with the industry's leading design\build professionals as they pitch their design concepts directly to them receiving immediate feedback and evaluation of their work.

 

2012 PROJECT FOCUS

The Regional Home Design Competition brings together some of the brightest minds from high school architecture and engineering programs around the country assembling as student-firms to take on a specified residential design project. Their reward is the opportunity to take part in face-to-face evaluations with some of the world's leading design professionals. Additionally, these student-firms are positioned to assess the outcome of their ideas against the best of their academic peers worldwide. Finally, participants strive for excellence in the hopes of being designated the Top Mock Firm of the Year taking home a minimum $500 prize. Equivalent winning designations include but may not be limited to the following:

 

      

 

 

THE VENUE FOR FINAL PRESENTATIONS

Chicago, Illinois will be the site of the 2012 Mock Firms Competition final presentations. The tentative location for this event is the Congress Hotel and Plaza Convention Center on beautiful and historic Michigan Avenue.

 

DESIGN OBJECTIVE

To organize a “mock” design\build firm for the purposes of conceiving, coordinating, constructing and commercializing a single-family residence which accommodates senior-living with considerations for those with disabilities for the appropriate designated venues.

 

 

Honors/Awards

Top Design Firm

Top Marketing Firm

Top Firm Organization

Top Construction Firm                                                         

Top State Firm*

Top Overall Mock Firm

*Contingent upon multiple

entries from a state or school

 

PREVIOUS YEAR RESULTS

Nearly 40 registered student-firms

Over 100 individual participants

10 different participating states

Over $2,000 in prizes distributed

 

STATES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS

 

Arkansas

California

Illinois

Kansas

Michigan

Missouri

Nevada

New Mexico

South Carolina

North Carolina

West Virginia

Wisconsin

 

CHANGES FOR 2012!

  • Firms can take advantage of an additional partner (a possible total of 5 student participants)

  • Preliminary sketches will NOT be required for registration, but are to be included in materials submitted for final presentations.

TEACHERS - USE AS A CLASS DESIGN PROJECT!

Understanding the challenges you face as a teacher in planning a curriculum which meets required objectives but also engages the disinterested as well as challenges the self-initiated, the mock firms model seeks to provide you with alternative instructional methods through competition. This is accomplished by utilizing a cooperative educational approach through involving the entire class (if desired) in an effort to take a building project from conception to construction. Although only 2-4 partners are pegged as the "principals" of the competing group, each additional classmate can participate as associates in employing their specific skills to bring the project to completion. Alternatively, multiple firms can be organized in one class or section to compete with each other. In addition to the benefit of availing yourself to this ready-made project assignment, your class can benefit from the measurement against the best among their peers around the country as well as the rare personal evaluation of their work from leaders in design profession. Let us know if we can assist you in tailoring an experience to meet your needs and objectives.

 

DATES AND DEADLINES

Note: Events and dates scheduled for listed events are subject to change


 

Late Registration Deadline - Jan 7, 2012 thru Mar 3, 2012

Video Presentations - April 14, 2012

Project Deadline for Non-attendees - April 20, 2012

Media Publication Inclusions - April 6, 2012

Project Presentation - Friday, May 4, 2012

 

 

CONTACT & MAILING ADDRESS

Send any inquiries, info to the following:


 

Please email registration and proposals to info@mockfirms.org

Materials can be sent via direct mail to:

Mock Firms

P.O. Box 3714

Chicago, IL 60654

Direct phone inquires between the hours of 7am - 7pm CST

773.410.1314 (please identify contest division and location)

 

REQUIREMENTS OVERVIEW

The basic required submissions for the competition are as follows:

  • Preliminary sketch (es) of the partner's initial design ideas

  • An organizational chart or description outlining the hierarchy and functions of all contributing members of your team

  • Promotional materials i.e. brochures, business cards, etc for your building project

  • A video presentation introducing your firm (all partners), location, and your project 

  • CAD drawings consisting of the primary elevation, a site plan, office plan, sections, and a 3-D perspective view.

  •  A scaled physical model of the building and its surrounding environs.

  •  A 10 minute oral presentation selling company and building proposal which should include descriptions of materials used, architectural styling, amenities, features, innovations, sustainability and LEED design goals

More detailed descriptions of each item are available in the project parameters. The following are requirements specific to submission of the Regional Home Design Project Division

 

ENTRANTS REQUIREMENTS

Because Mock Firms is a wholly collaborative enterprise, entrants must register a team of no less than two (2) partners, but not more than five (5) to qualify for competition.  Although participants do not have to be in the same class, partners should consist of students from the same school. Entrants must submit a registration form, registration fee and project proposal.

 

PROJECT PROPOSALS


In order to qualify for participation in the Mock Firms competitions, entrants must submit among other stated criteria a project proposal. This proposal is a preliminary declaration of the scope and direction of your desired building project. We are not looking for details at this stage as we know things of this nature are to be worked through an ongoing design process. We are seeking a rudimentary approach to what kind of design team you may be looking to assemble in order to accomplish competition objectives. Additionally, we desire to gage your initial perspective on the overall scope and direction of your design concept. This report is to be viewed only as a summary of possibilities and intent and will not be used to tie any "firm" to its content in the final analysis. Our hope is that each design partner or team give purposeful thought to their plan of action even that those plans evolve into something almost entirely different from what was present at the outset. To this end, we are asking for a 1 - 3 page, 1.5 or 2x spaced brief which includes a tentative firm name, possible individual project team titles (responsibilities) needed, why you and your firm are taking on this commission, name and dominate program of your building (if it will be the skyscraper project), intentions of incorporation of sustainable principles and consultation you may seek (i.e. teacher, professors, professionals, etc). This report should accompany registration but can be sent separately up to January 6, 2012. If you will be registering later in March and would like to submit this report at that time, please email your request to info@mockfirms.org 

 

 

 

PRESENTATION PARTICIPATION

All competition registrants will be eligible to make final presentations. Multiple "firms" from a school, program or class is acceptable. Instructors and adult chaperones are expected to accompany student-participants. Although this event takes place over 2-3 days, project presentations will take place on only one day in Chicago, Friday, May 4. The first and last days will be scheduled opportunities to enjoy the city and architectural-related activities. However, we understand that coming to Chicago may not be a realistic option for some participants. Therefore, project materials can be sent to Chicago in lieu of your being present there. 

 

PROCEDURE FOR NON-ATTENDEES

As previously mentioned, it is anticipated that some registrants will not be able to make the trip to Chicago for a variety of reasons. In consideration of this, we want those of you to whom this might apply to know that our determination is to make every effort to assure your project receives an equal assessment with those present. One of the ways we seek to accomplish this is to permit non-attendees the use of additional materials to help fill in the gaps which might result from not being able to vocally explain your design. Details of what the these exceptions are will be available upon registration.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPDATES

Mock Firms Welcomes First Time Participants!

 

Midwest Region

St. Charles North H.S., St. Charles, Illinois

Naperville North H.S., Naperville, Illinois

Waubonsie Valley H.S., Aurora, Illinois

 

South Region

Klein Forest H.S., Houston, Texas

North Oconee H.S., Bogart, Georgia

 

We Also Welcome Returning Participants!

 

East Region

White Knoll H.S., Lexington, South Carolina

North Mecklenburg H.S., Huntersville, North Carolina

 

Midwest Region

Bolingbrook H.S., Bolingbrook, Illinois

Lemont H.S., Lemont, Illinois

 

IMPORTANT! Design Parameter Update

  • The desired preference for the amount of floors in the house design is to be 1-story. You are allow to do a 2-story home if that is to be your final interpretation of the solution to the problem. If you do so, we suggest limited space below or above main floor level and that the space be storage or other creative uses. Keep in mind the need for easy access to these areas of your house.

 

 

DOWNLOAD THE REGISTRATION FORM

 

PLEASE REQUEST A PROJECT PARAMETER FILE VIA EMAIL

info@mockfirms.org

 

Late Mock Firms Registration

 


 

Introducing

 

WORKING TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY

Fundamental Exercises in Green Building Design

 

 

 

Bringing Our Research and Today's Industry Experts Into Your Classrooms and Organizational Meetings!

 

A new instructional video series on sustainable design. Titles in this 5-disk video curriculum include:

  • Sustainability in Focus

  • Sustainability Diversified and Applied

  • Sustainable Systems

  • Sustainable Building and Lifestyle Products

Accompanying the 4 DVD's is a data CD which contains the following:

  • A multi-question file which can be used as an exam or series quiz

  • LEED Design situations for cad programs

  • Case Studies of successful green projects

  • Images of green-related subjects

Additionally, a 46-page workbook of assignments and resources compliments the video series with ...

  • Discussion, Group & Design Questions & Projects

  • A Green Glossary & Statistics

  • LEED Charts

  • Important Standards in Sustainability

  • Online Resources

Based on the documentary Sustainable Chicago

Produced & Published by Chicago Architecture Today LLC

5-Disk Package (DVD, CD) & Soft cover Workbook, 46 pages

Retail Price $549.95 (20 additional workbooks - $699.95)

To purchase by check, designate payee as Chicago Architecture Today LLC

Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery

Available Packages

Refund Policy

Full refunds are available for the return of any unopened materials (video and workbook) for up to 10 days after receiving purchase. Return shipping costs will be the responsibility of the customer. Cancelled purchases will be honored if the material has not yet been shipped and if shipped, will be fulfilled after items are returned. There is a non-return policy if any part of the purchased and shipped material has been opened or used. 

 

 


 

MOCK FIRMS 2011

STUDENT-BASED

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN COMPETITIONS

 ARCHITECTURE THAT WORKS

 

COMPETITION REVIEW

Last May, scores of participants descended upon Chicago to take place in the 3rd annual Mock Firms National Skyscraper Challenge. Firms and guests had the opportunity to tour the offices of Perkins + Will and also the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Later student firms visited the new Ledge at the Willis Tower 's SkyDeck. Friday was competition time and as usual student firms were impressive as well as outstanding in there presentations. Competition was intense though and saw a first time champion taking top honors overall from White Knoll H.S. in Lexington, South Carolina. DNA Residential was thorough in their in their preparation, approach and presentation for their townhome concept. Multiple honors were awarded to over 20 firms at the award ceremony.

 


Home | Scholarships | Contests | Message Board | Archtionary | AEC Directory | Area Colleges & Universities

Building Directory | Tourist Sites | Arch-Tunes | Hometown Heroes | Sightlines | Featured Friends | Merchandise | Classifieds | Archives | Articles

About Us | Contact Us | Career Opportunities | Play Sudoku | Make Us Your Homepage

© Copyright 2006, Chicago Architecture Today LLC. All rights reserved.