The Monument Circle Idea Competition Blog

Greg Meckstroth’s winning idea seeks to complement Monument Circle’s existing urban design with updates that increase vitality and human experiences. Increasing greenspace, activating first-floor storefronts and improving the pedestrian realm encourage interaction and create a more human space.

“I am very excited to be selected as the Monument Circle Idea Competition’s People’s Choice Winner,” said Meckstroth. “I walked through the Circle every day on my way to and from work and formed many opinions on how the Circle could be improved.” He used all these ideas and entered a submission. “The way I saw it, the aesthetics were already in place. The Circle was poised to become one of the great public spaces in the country. I hope that my idea brings fresh ideas to the conversation. Certainly, I am excited to see what the future holds for Monument Circle,” he added.

Meckstroth has worked in Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and is now with a design firm in Philadelphia, Pa. As the People’s Choice winner, he will be awarded $1,000.

The top 12 entries, including the Judges’ Choice awards, were displayed on Monument Circle from June 15 – 26. More than 800 votes were cast via a text-to-vote campaign. Meckstroth’s winning entry, along with the other 11 top ideas, will remain on display on Monument Circle through July 5, 2011.

“We are pleased with the Monument Circle Idea Competition results,” said Tamara Zahn, Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. president. “Creative input, assessment and ideas were generated from around the world, a team of judges provided expert input, hundreds of Central Indiana residents voted for their choice and key themes emerged for future Monument Circle use. All of this will provide rich material for the scoping team as they move forward to produce their recommendations.”

One of the most valuable parts of the Monument Circle Idea Competition was the development of common themes. There were certain broad ideas that were central to many of the entries we received.

If you’ve seen the exhibition on the Circle, you’ve probably seen these posters. They pull images from multiple submissions to highlight the point that these were ideas shared by lots of people. Check ‘em out–and don’t forget to text your vote for your favorite for the People’s Choice Award.

Wow! After the first four-and-a-half days of voting for the People’s Choice Award in the Monument Circle Idea Competition, we’ve received nearly 500 votes! Thanks to everyone who’s participated so far–and thanks for continuing to spread the word about the competition…

…which is running for one more week. You have from now through midnight next Sunday, June 26, to vote for your favorite idea–or to help get out the vote for the one you like best. Remember, there’s a $1,000 prize at stake for the People’s Choice winner.

And we can’t tell you which entries are the leading vote-getters so far–but we can tell you that no one’s running away with the prize. If you haven’t voted, get down to Monument Circle, or view all the entries online at the campaign website. And don’t forget to let us know what you think!

What did our judges have to say about the Monument Circle Design Competition? We caught up with them on the final day of judging and had the opportunity to speak with all of them.

Remember: we want your opinions, too. Let us know what you think about the future of Monument Circle. Give us your feedback–and text to vote for your People’s Choice favorite today.

Now through Sunday, June 26, you can see all 12 of the Judges’ Choice finalists in a special exhibition around Monument Circle. Stroll the Circle and see them all—we think you’ll be amazed by the scope and quality of the ideas we received.

And don’t forget to help us award one more prize: the $1,000 People’s Choice Award. Look at all the entries—then choose your favorite by texting to vote! You’ll find complete details at the exhibition and online at the official competition website. Remember: you can’t vote online, but you can view the entries online and text to vote for your favorite.

Text to vote for your favorite—and tell your friends! And don’t forget to look for the announcement of the People’s Choice winner on Tuesday, June 28.

Six weeks of dreaming and scheming. 64 entries from Indianapolis, across the nation, and around the world. A month of consideration and judging. And it’s all come down to this:

All of us at the Monument Circle Idea Competition are proud to congratulate our First-, Second-, and Third-Place Winners!

The winners! (Yes, the City of Indianapolis and the State of Indiana are winners, too.) From left, Mayor Greg Ballard; winning designers Jean-Baptiste Cueille and François David; and Indiana Department of Administration Commissioner Rob Winkoop

First Place ($5,000): From Inertia To Inner Circle

Submitted by: Jean-Baptiste Cueille & François David; Paris, France.

When is a circle not a circle? This idea would “liberate” the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Monument from its inner ring, creating a cross shape that forges new links between the center and new water features, lawns and greenspaces, terraces and a pavilion for dining, shopping, and other activities.

Local boys make good: The guys from the Urban Design Studio of RATIO Architects.

Second Place ($2,000): RE:Centering Indianapolis 1001

Submitted by: Urban Design Studio of RATIO Architects, Inc.; Indianapolis, Indiana.

The big idea here is that Monument Circle doesn’t need a “big idea”: it already does “big” really well. Instead, this entry envisions many small ideas that keep what’s best about the Circle and asks us to imagine it as a 21st Century neighborhood: accessible, engaging, and human.

Muncie and Ball State represent: Third place goes to Studio Three Architects.

Third Place ($1,000): Nexus: Indianapolis

Submitted by: Studio Three Architects: Brian Hollars, Lohren Deeg & Kerry LaPrees; Muncie, Indiana.

“Nexus” means both “center” and “connection”–and this idea envisions Monument Circle as a center that connects civic and cultural landmarks along Market Street, emphasizing access for pedestrians and adding trees to form a more pleasing visual backdrop to the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Monument.

Congratulations to the winners–and all the entrants–of the Monument Circle Idea Competition. And be sure to check out all the Judges’ Choice finalists–and vote for your favorite–at the special exhibition going on now on Monument Circle. You can also see the 12 finalists online at the official competition website.

Today’s the day. The winners are in town, and the press conference happens this afternoon at 3 p.m. That’s when we’ll be unveiling the First-, Second-, and Third-Place winners of the Monument Circle Idea Competition and kicking off the exhibition–and the text-to-vote campaign–of the 12 Judge’s Choice finalists.

You can vote for your People’s Choice favorite starting today at 3 p.m. (You get only one vote, so make it count!) Voting runs through Sunday, June 26, and the winner, who receives a $1,000 prize, will be announced Tuesday, June 28.

And you don’t have to wait to see all the Judges’ choice finalists. View them all right now at this Indianapolis Star photo gallery. And, if you’re in town, plan a trip down to Monument Circle to see all the finalists in their natural setting.

We still want your ideas, too. Click the “Your Ideas” tab above and let us know what you think!