Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Competition Announced

Date: December 10, 2009
Contact: Tom Bradley, 314-6551600
Contact: Frank Mares, 314-655-1600

Superintendent Tom Bradley stated that “This competition is a unique and important opportunity to integrate the Arch and the park surrounding it into the fabric of the city and region and embrace the Mississippi River and its east bank. It’s an opportunity to energize the park with new amenities and attractions. By achieving both of these objectives, we will design people into the area – and establish a national model for urban parks.”

The winning design will be announced in October 2010, with the resulting work completed by October 28, 2015 – the 50^th anniversary of the completion of the Arch. A sponsorship group will be driving the effort, including representatives of the National Park Service, the City of St. Louis, regional business and university leaders, national park advocates and architects.

The competition, entitled “Framing a Modern Masterpiece: The City + The Arch + The River 2015” is mandated by the park’s new General Management Plan, which was developed with extensive public input over an 18-month period, and approved on Nov. 23.

The competition is being organized and managed by Donald Stastny, one of the nation’s most experienced design managers. Stastny is the chief executive officer of StastnyBrun Architects in Portland, Ore., and has served as professional advisor for more than 35 design competitions. Stastny will instruct and assist an eight-person jury. The names of jury members, from design, architecture, landscape architecture and related fields, will be announced in early January, closer to the deadline for initial registration for the competition.

Additional information and key dates associated with the competition can be found at www.cityarchrivercompetition.org. For more information please visit our website at www.nps.gov/jeff or call [phone].