THE winning design by Architekton Design Studio Bahamas.
By FARRAH JOHNSON
THE Central Bank of The Bahamas has revealed the winning design for the new Central Bank building.
Architekton Design Studio Bahamas was crowned the winner of the Urban Planning and Architectural Design Competition, landing the $50,000 grand prize.
The “Nassau Reimagined” design competition also included a “people’s choice” component under the theme: “Nassau Reimagined: Our city, our bank, our choice,” which allowed the public to choose a design online.
Noelle Nicolls, campaign coordinator for the People’s Choice competition, said the number of initiatives implemented in an effort to revitalise Nassau inspired it. She also explained that it was an ideal opportunity for the public to participate in a “major infrastructural project”, and reported that the competition had over 3,500 voters in a period of less than two weeks.
“Usually we just see buildings going up, but in this instance, the public through the gallery, through the online competition and the website, and the portfolios of all the designers, was really able to participate in not just the selection and review process, but now will feel a sense of ownership as the development of the premises goes on”, she said.
With additional remarks regarding the overall race, Ian Fernander, Administration Manager of the Central Bank, said the competition was “anonymous in many aspects”.
He said no one in the bank, other than himself and one other person, knew the identity of the competitors, and added that competitors were assigned random numbers, and asked to ensure that they did not reveal themselves.
The panel consisted of five anonymous judges with diverse backgrounds in architecture, engineering, fine arts, anthropology, urban planning, and education. The process also considered the judges’ scoring, further review, and process reviews by the bank.
“During the judging process… the judges really just judged what they had in front of them...they boiled it down to three winners...and we’ve kept everything confidential - up to this point, so when the winners are announced, that will be the first time that even the persons in the bank know who the winners are,” Mr Fernander said.
Some of the competitors included, Architekton Design Studio Bahamas represented by Jason P Lorandos, Architectural Design Ideas Limited represented by Derek Saunders, Arcop Architects Limited represented by Douglas Smith, The Architectural Studio represented by Michael Moss, and the Diamond Consulting Group and HKS Architects Incorporated represented by Sean Farrington. A full list of the participating architectural firms, along with their conceptual designs, can be found on the bank’s website at www.centralbankbahamas.com.
Arcop Limited placed third in the overall competition winning $10,000, while The Diamond Consulting Group and HKS Architects Inc. was awarded $5,000 for placing first in the People’s Choice competition, and another $25,000 for placing second in the overall competition.
In describing Architekton Design Studio Bahamas’ winning concept, Fernander referred to some of the judges’ comments stating: “The project described as a sculptural object by its architect would represent an iconic image for the new Central Bank...boldness and audacity in terms of the design, and a deep thoughtfulness about the urban environment and the public spaces as well.”
Explaining the purpose of the competition, John Rolle, governor of the Central Bank said: “Part of the reason why we put this campaign on is because we want the new Central Bank facility to remain in the downtown area, and for that to be a catalyst of the development in the area… having a new building is an imperative… we’ve outgrown (the current building), and there are modern security needs… so we’re very happy with all of the designs. ”
Mr Rolle added that the next step in the process is to assemble the submissions and present the package to the government for approval, in order to proceed to the next stage.
Comments
Economist 5 years, 11 months ago
Someone in the Central Bank must be smoking something serious. The Bahamas Government "has no money" for this.
Please make a statement that this building is just a dream for when the country is rich>
Besides the Central Bank, especially the Banks Supervision Department has done nothing for the last 35 years, so they certainly don't need any more space.
realitycheck242 5 years, 11 months ago
The Money from Dormant/inactive accounts can go a long way in financing this Building.
Proguing 5 years, 11 months ago
Apparently the Central Bank hasn't noticed that offshore banks are closing faster than we can think.
Suzon 5 years, 11 months ago
So what was the point of “People’s choice” component if people’s choice was clearly ignored? The “winning” design is impossible to build and does not work for this climate.
bogart 5 years, 11 months ago
Mudda sic dred...fully agree wid you Economist...dey smoking sometjing serious.!!!
Govt trying to balance the budget and all dem past govt policoes that the Central Bank saw nothing wrong wid govt wasting money, national debt run up, ......even the Bank of the Bahamas bin suing Central Bank, ..billion dollar mortgage loan defaults crippling country....plenty losing homes left right centre......banks pulling out of major islands....consumers complaining over 100% plus increase in bank fees, complaints Central Bank support previous govt carrying too much govt short term securities, owing 40 % Bisx whichin everybody shares traded,.........muddoes dred....and 40-45,000 peoples jnder poverth line, 1 in 8 going to bed hungry......govt laying off people.....post office moving outta downtown to Gladstone road......an yall looking to gets rewarded..?.new building......yall better computerize like the banks yall supposed to oversee an try replace people wid computers.....stop the regressive mentality an move wid the rest of the world.....an try sharing or better sell dat stuff dat yall on ...cause it seem medical grade....
John 5 years, 11 months ago
Hurricane impactful...with the amount of exposed glass it will all have to be impact resistant and aalso tinted for temperature control. The design itself is more on the level of a crypto coin..futuristic. Not the usual "stretched box" or "several boxes put together", that we are used to seing. but yet more Downtown, Manhattan, NY, than Nassau, Bahamas. But will it be built? And if it is will it be able to draw other buildings to adapt to its design?
sheeprunner12 5 years, 11 months ago
Where will it be built?? ....... What will the old CBOB building be used for??? How much will this new CBOB cost???? ........ probably $50-60M?????
B_I_D___ 5 years, 11 months ago
On the old Victoria Hotel Property...East side of Parliament Street, going from Shirley Street up to the Post office.
sheeprunner12 5 years, 11 months ago
It will be a shame to destroy all of those large old trees in the Royal Victoria compound to build a Parliament of reasonable size with parking etc. There are more suitable places between Arawak Cay and the Bridge to build these public buildings ........ Good time to change the downtown roadways to make it a no-vehicle zone and a more pedestrian-friendly and cultural aura.
realitycheck242 5 years, 11 months ago
Every major City in the world has an iconic structure that is known world wide. Some examples that come to mind are the Sidney opera house, The bird nest in china, The Burj al Arab and the Emirate tower two in Dubai. This design with the curved sides reflect or resembles a sail boat and it will represent a status symbol for this island city as a tourist destination especially if located on the present hill top site of the general post office. This biulding will be one of the first land mark tourist see when entering nassau habour. . Never mind the cost, the central bank will finance this independantly of the government. It will be a tourist attraction and green technology used in its construction, this building will be an edifice that will make all Bahamians proud. A Building like this along with our airport design and Baha Nar and Atlantis are establishing this country as a destination like none other especially in the Carribean central america region..
sheeprunner12 5 years, 11 months ago
How can the Central Bank building be the iconic landmark for Nassau?? Downtown has a vertical ceiling law. Parliament needs to be placed on the old Post Office site.
realitycheck242 5 years, 11 months ago
Parliament can go on the old Ministry of health property just across the road from the general post office. That vertical ceiling law must be done away with if the plan to make Bay street a living city is to be realized.
ThisIsOurs 5 years, 11 months ago
I say leave the cielding right where it is, nothing eclipses a beautiful skyline...curses on the pointe
sheeprunner12 5 years, 11 months ago
Now we need a new Parliament design ..... six stories like the new CBOB.
realitycheck242 5 years, 11 months ago
Agreed....i am sure those MP's could get something right and have a design competition at two levels. One for students and one for the professionals.
bogart 5 years, 11 months ago
The postoffice site I understand was the homestead ofone branch of the Malcolm family who served the nation speaker judge and the site was given to the people on which the govt built the post office The site should be used for a Parliament buildong to benefit all. Hospital site should be green space The 4 storey limit seems to have changed and will affect construction downtown Bay St starting with Pointe. It is likely any possible view will be blocked as any developer will want to go higher. Central Bank should be moved outside city as most business is and should be electroniclly done. We need to put more structures outside instead to conpact small inner spaces further.
Sickened 5 years, 11 months ago
I like it. It was certainly the most detailed and thought out design. I don't think it should be built anytime soon however! BUT if not now - when?
myopinion242 5 years, 11 months ago
I don't like it. It looks like something from Star Trek. The colonial designs are more suited to our island life. First of all when you are erecting these big structures you should have a large piece of property so that the building can be well away from the street. At the moment I don't see any of the downtown areas having that kind of land space. More importantly down town is already congested and without room to move. A building of this size means that people, cars and more traffic are coming to the jammed up space. Come on people we need to stop thinking for one moment in time. If we don't do something radical within twenty years we won't have space to move. Our thoughts need to be based on moving away from the broken city that has been abandoned. People for whatever reason are not interested in Bay Street as we knew it to be in the 50s and 60s......Let's stop validating ourselves by looking at Australia and New York City and thinking we are more than simply because we can erect big buildings. In fact if we would use our brains we will see that we really don't need buildings to run our offices. Offices are being run from smart phones and laptops.
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 11 months ago
$50,000 wasted by John Rolle and the Board of the Central Bank. Disgustingly unaffordable and uneconomical in too many obvious ways to even bother elaborating on.
Alex_Charles 5 years, 11 months ago
I love it! But how the hell are they gonna pay for it?
proudloudandfnm 5 years, 11 months ago
Can the money used to build a new cental bank be used to build a new hospital?
We need a hospital waaayyyy more than a new CB building...
joeblow 5 years, 11 months ago
I can think of a hundred and one ways money could be better spent. For starters, this country needs a detention center and marine outpost on one of our southern islands far more than it needs a new Central Bank!
bogart 5 years, 11 months ago
The Central Bank Govenor John Rolle indidicated there is a preference for this massive structure site for the Victoria Gardens site ........so more importantly what would the plans for the House of our Almighty Lord and Saviour Zion Baptist Church that is located on the north east corner????
DDK 5 years, 11 months ago
Nice but RIDICULOUS for Nassau, particularly with our economic constraints. Sometimes I fear our Government and its support folk have birdseed for brains.
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