WASHINGTON, DC, April 14, 2014 – The NoMa Parks Foundation announces today an international design competition to transform four railroad underpasses in NoMa. The long hoped-for initiative will turn the underpasses at Florida Avenue, NE, and K, L and M Streets, NE, into stunning contemporary art installations, and further strengthen east-west connections in NoMa and to Capitol Hill.
Qualifications are due May 9, 2014 and will be followed by a formal RFP issued to qualified entrants. Neighborhood residents could begin to see installation start as early as 2015. Details about the competition can be found at www.NoMaUnderpasses.org.
“With this enormously exciting project, we envision each NoMa underpass not only becoming an inspiring and engaging space but, together, they will comprise a signature moment in NoMa,” said Charles (Sandy) Wilkes, Chairman of the NoMa Parks Foundation Board of Directors.
By transforming these thoroughfares with a series of interactive design solutions, NoMa will ensure these spaces are vibrant, safe, dynamic and inviting for vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic moving through the neighborhood. As the NoMa Parks Foundation and the NoMa BID begin to implement projects from the 2012 Public Realm Design Plan, we are closely following the community input that played a strong role in the decision to move this particular project forward.
The NoMa Parks Foundation seeks artists and designers who will envision bold, creative approaches to the underpasses. Finalists will receive stipends to refine their ideas prior to final selection. The selected artists/designers will be responsible for final design and oversight of installation.
This design competition is the first project to be funded by the $50 million grant from the District of Columbia government to improve parks and public spaces in the NoMa neighborhood.
About NoMa
NoMa is a vibrant, growing neighborhood nestled between Union Station, the U.S. Capitol, Shaw, and the H Street, NE corridor in Washington, D.C. Over the last several years, private developers have invested more than $5 billion in the 35-block area within the NoMa BID boundary, and have plans to develop more than 16 million square feet of additional office, residential, hotel, and retail space. With a capital investment of $50 million from the District government in 2013, NoMa will soon have great new parks and public spaces as well. NoMa is home to more than 3,900 terrific new apartments, and more than 40,000 people work here each day. NoMa is the most connected neighborhood in Washington, D.C. With unparalleled transportation access on Amtrak, VRE, MARC, two Red Line Metro stops, and vehicular access to Interstate 395, visitors, workers and residents can easily travel throughout the region as well as get to New York or anywhere on the East Coast. NoMa has a WalkScore of 92 and offers great biking facilities, including three free outdoor air pumps, the East Coast’s only Bikestation, the 8-mile Metropolitan Branch Trail, and seven Capital Bikeshare stations. The NoMa BID organizes more than 50 free award-winning community events each year, connecting more than 20,000 friends and neighbors. For more information about NoMa, visit nomabid.wpengine.com and sign up for our bimonthly newsletter. Follow us on Twitter @NoMaBID and like us on Facebook.
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For immediate release
News media contact:
Rachel Davis
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