How Prize2theFuture idea contest worked
Participants submitted entries to the idea contest as individuals or as part of a team and were limited to three submissions per person. An interactive map on the site provided an in-depth look at the area around the Prize2theFuture site, including the 19-acre Railroad Park to the west.
Contestants considered the following evaluation criteria, weighting and characteristics when preparing their entries:
Does the idea have the cool factor? (25%)
- Inspires youthfulness, social engagement, fun and creativity
- Helps attract and retain talented, interesting people within the Greater Birmingham community
- Collaborative by design
Does the idea complement the Railroad Park/Sloss Corridor? (20%)
- Builds on existing assets, especially along the Railroad Park/Sloss Corridor
- Unique and distinctive to Birmingham
- May include creative connectivity to other areas or sites
Is the idea feasible, realistic, doable and sustainable? (25%)
- Provides earned income for Railroad Park
Is the idea magnetic and contagious? (20%)
- A dynamic destination with potential for a new experience every visit
- Energizing, intriguing and timeless destination
- Encourages repeat visits
Does the idea have broad appeal? (10%)
- Offers hope, excitement, pride to users of all ages
- Equally attractive to residents and visitors
- A unifying effect on region
Meet the judges
Tom Leader
Tom Leader, whose California-based firm led the design of Birmingham’s Railroad Park, served as chair of the judging committee.
Community and civic leaders and Community Catalyst Fund donors served as judges in the first round, cutting the total entries to 50. In addition to Leader, these judges wereJohnathan Austin, Nan Baldwin, Alice Meriwether Bowsher, Michael A. Calvert, Maria Campbell, Charles Collat, Geoff Connor, Stewart Dansby, John Alex Floyd Jr., Ronne Hess, Dr. Sandral Hullett, William R. Ireland, Paul Kennedy, Sandy Killion, Kay Kornmeier, Eileen Kunzman, Jake McKenzie, C. Philip McWane, Philip Morris, Ruffner Page, Tony Petelos, G. Gray Plosser Jr., Kristin Ritter, Hugh Rushing, Ama Shambulia, Emmie Cunningham Smith, Cameron Vowell, Bradley James Watts, Lyord Watson, Justin P. Weintraub, Alan Weeks, Christopher M. Wilson.
Judges in the final round chose the top 10 and the top three winners out of the final 50. This group included local and national experts, led by Tom Leader, included Johnathan Austin, Maurice Cox, William Drenttel, John Alex Floyd Jr., Cheryl Morgan, Philip Morris, Rebecca Ryan, Ama Shambulia and Alan Weeks.