Apply — Design Baltimore: Gateways

Key dates

Submissions deadline: September 25, 2026 · 11:59 PM EST
Jury review: September 28 – October 20, 2026
Competitors are welcome to resubmit revised drafts before the deadline.

Award amounts are subject to funding availability and BDC approval. Schedule subject to change; see the timeline for the latest.

New here? Review the Resources to ground your concept in Baltimore's adopted strategy before you submit.

Applicant information

Applicant name*

Organization / firm name (if applicable)

Primary contact email*

Phone number

City, state*

Website and/or portfolio link

Social media handles (optional)

Team information

Are you applying as*

IndividualTeamOrganization/Firm

Please list all team members and their roles

One per line — name, role, affiliation.

Briefly describe your team's experience*

In public art, placemaking, architecture, urban design, landscape architecture, community design, or related fields. 250 words maximum.

Interest & eligibility

Which Baltimore Gateway corridor(s) are you interested in?*

Russell Street (Southern)Conway Street (Western)President Street (Northern)Multiple corridors

Why are you interested in participating in Design Baltimore: Gateways?*

250 words maximum.

Have you previously completed a public-facing design, public art, placemaking, or civic engagement project?*

yesno

If yes, please provide up to three examples

Include links or short descriptions. One per line.

Vision & approach

Initial vision for how Baltimore's gateways can create a memorable sense of arrival*

300 words maximum.

How would your approach reflect Baltimore's identity, culture, history, and future aspirations?*

300 words maximum.

How would your concept enhance the experience of residents, visitors, workers, and travelers entering the city?*

300 words maximum.

Community & impact

How do you typically incorporate community voices into your design process?*

250 words maximum.

What outcomes would you hope your design concept achieves for Baltimore?*

Select all that apply.

Other outcome (please specify)

Describe how your concept would contribute to one or more of the outcomes selected above*

250 words maximum.

Submission materials

Accepted formats: PDF, JPG, PNG, PPT/PPTX, DOC/DOCX. 10MB per file.

Resume / CV or team qualifications

One PDF or DOC per team member, or a combined team-qualifications PDF.

Proposed concept (artwork, rendering, sketch, or design package)

PDF, JPG, PNG, PPT or PPTX. Up to 5 files, 10MB each.

Supporting materials (optional)

Any additional references that help evaluators understand your work.

Certification

I certify that the information provided is accurate and complete.

I understand that selected applicants may be invited to participate in further stages of the program, and that an award does not guarantee selection for any subsequent implementation work.

I have read and agree to the Official Competition Rules, Submission Terms, and Privacy Policy. I confirm the submission is my/our original work and grant the Baltimore Development Corporation a non-exclusive license to display and publish it for promotional, educational, and exhibition purposes related to Design Baltimore: Gateways.

Optional evaluation questions

Highly recommended — these help distinguish strong applicants early.

What makes your perspective uniquely suited to reimagining one of Baltimore's gateways?

250 words maximum.

Describe a project where you transformed a space, place, or experience into something more engaging, welcoming, or memorable. What was the outcome?

300 words maximum.

What does a successful "gateway" mean to you?

200 words maximum.

You'll see a confirmation on this page once it's received.

Initial application