Notre Dame’s classically oriented School of Architecture is overseeing a contest to design a monumental entrance to the District of Columbia in celebration of the New Millennium.
The competition, limited to students and young professionals, will be conducted in two phases. In the first, entrants will submit designs in line with the gate’s theme, which is to reaffirm “the central role the nation’s capital plays in our civic life.” The Millennium Gate Foundation and School of Architecture, cosponsors of the contest, are looking for a classical style to reinforce the traditions established by architect Pierre Charles L’Enfant in his original 1793 plan for Washington. A jury of American and international architects will select the best submission and name up to 12 architects to collaborate on the final design.
The principal site for the gate is the Barney Circle in southeast Washington, D.C., but the collaborating architects will produce designs for two additional potential sites. Organizers of the project hope construction, which will not involve public funds, will begin before the end of this year. The winning designer will be awarded $1,500, and the other finalists will each receive $1,000 and all expenses required for participation in the collaboration.