FAQs

The intent of the CDQS Design Competition is primarily conceptual in nature. We have tried to provide a basis for the competition centered around our actual site layout, environment, culture, and design considerations imposed by the funding agencies involved. Within this framework, we are hoping that the student teams can prepare designs that will lend themselves to the energy efficiency, sustainability, aesthetics, etc. of the final home, all of which add to the living experience of our homeowner participants. Obviously with the short time frame afforded during the competition, teams are not expected to “redesign” the site, infrastructure or environment, but are encouraged to work with designs that address building envelope/materials, energy efficient systems and sound design principles. For clarification, the Oversight Committee may not adopt an entire design from any winning team, but may only incorporate portions or systems from the winning designs into a final design.

1- Is there any other information about the project (other than what is on the web site) to be delivered to participants after registration?

YES. Please click here to download a .zip file containing a Google Earth .kmz file, an AutoCad .dwg file and various other images and maps.

 2- Can the site plan shown in the web site be altered?  

NO. However, comments and suggestions will be considered for future competition and work.

There is concern for the internal street layout as it is proposed. It opens the possibility for go-through traffic, takes up a lot of land, and separates the playground from the residential units.

 3- Also about the site plan, can lots be changed?

NO.

4- Can pertinent community facilities be included in the proposal?  For instance, a multi-purpose community room for small meetings, gatherings, etc.

NO.

5- What is the legal description of the parcel?

This should not be necessary. Teams need to concentrate their efforts on house design and systems to work within the given site and infrastructure.

6- Is there water available for the project?

YES. Water, sewer and electricity are all available at the property.

7- You are asking for a model home design but in order to maximize solar orientation, efficiency, etc. each of the 21 homes would have to be unique give the orientations of the various sites on the given site plan.  Do you want a prototype and then images that describe how that prototype home could be easily "redesigned" to fit differing sites and to maximize energy efficiency?

Choose the lot within the site that gives optimal performance for your design and indicate in your submission how this optimum performance will vary with differing orientations/conditions.

8- Also, the site states that the site plan should not be redesigned.  the given site plan does not address energy consciousness or ideas about community infrastructure.  Despite the fact that the criteria for the development and its site planning may be largely dictated by conventional lending practices (for example) this ideas competition could have been a vehicle for challenging those conventional practices in the hopes of better addressing energy conservation, culturally sensitive community design issues, etc. 

The site plan cannot be altered. Future developments may allow for a design competition that allows for a more expanded approach to site layout, community infrastructure, etc.