squareOne of the big projects I’ve recently become involved with is X-square, an initiative of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. The program has a Facebook Presence and this is the official blurb for the program:

X-square is an annual project commission for student teams to conceptualize, design and build a structure that activates the big empty red brick space in the Neeb Plaza courtyard. Through student team development, the public presentation of juried proposals and faculty engagement, X-square can function as a meeting of the minds and talents residing in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. X-square turns the studio inside out and, at its best, will serve as a laboratory to generate models of meaningful urban gathering spaces.

The project entails a student competition, much like a public art commission, for the development of a small, brick courtyard on campus. Teams of (at least) 3 students from different schools in the newly founded institute will prepare proposals to develop the space according to 10 program parameters.

1. Each proposal should develop an integrated strategy that brings together subject matter expertise among the arts and design.

2. Each qualifying team must have a minimum of one student from both SoA and SALA plus one student from one of the other five schools in the Herberger Institute ( AME, Dance, Theater and Film, Music, SDI). Teams are not limited to these three upperdivision and/or graduate students, other student expertise from the greater University is encouraged. Each team must have a faculty advisor from one of the seven schools In the Herberger Institute.

3. Entries should propose an environment that encourages occupation/use/program of the space by students faculty and staff across the Herberger Institute as well as the greater ASU community.

4. Issues of climate, context, and accessibility must be considered.

5. Interventions are limited to the brick area only, with the exception of an accessibility ramp that meets the ADA minimum slope of 1‟:12‟ to the brick area.

6. The brick surface can be covered, but cannot be damaged or modified in any way. Structures must be designed so that NO ground penetrations are needed for footings or supports.

7. Proposals should employ sustainable materials and methods of construction and incorporate necessary infrastructures, such as electric power and water into the design of the scheme. NO POWER OR WATER WILL BE PROVIDED FROM THE CAMPUS.

8. The life of the intervention will be nine (9) months and must be designed to be dismantled and recycled with limited waste.

9. All design, fabrication, installation and dismantling will be the responsibility of the student team.

10. Teams must have FUN !

The project is a year long endeavor with the following timeline:

  1. Student teams are due for approval immediately following Thanksgiving holiday break. Once the teams are approved…
  2. Proposals due at the beginning of next semester when mock ups of the finished installation will be on display for public comment and consideration.
  3. A jury will decide the winning team which will go into development in the Spring 2010 semester and…
  4. Installation of the winning team’s project will happen during the summer of 2010.
  5. The installation will remain on the site until the end of the 2010/11 academic year.

There are terrific possibilities for internships, independent study and other professional development. The best part, I think, is that X-square aims to mix it up between architecture, art, performance, film. It will be a very productive adventure. We had a launch party this past Wednesday (10/14) and there were over 150 students and faculty there, mostly from the School of Art and the School of Architecture + Landscape Architecture. It was fun.

As things develop, I’ll be posting info to Cranky Femme so that I have a permanent (if virtual) record of this project.