Q&A

Q. Why isn't this an RFQ? RFPs are a lot of work up front unpaid, which is risky for working artists, especially for a commission of this scale.

A. This initiative is an open public design competition.

Q. Can you also talk about how the community will collaborate on projects that have been proposed?

A. The community will have an opportunity to provide feedback on the 12 semi-finalists via an art exhibition. Once the 3 winners are announced, we will share insight from the community to support refining the designs.

Q. Can you repeat the time(s) for the walk-throughs on Aug 4th? I will be traveling from NY.

A. The tour will take place on August 4th from 1 PM – 4 PM.

Q. Can you also talk about the selection professionals that will judge feasibility of proposed concepts and about their experience with the bespoke built environments?

A. Our jury is made up of representatives from each of our partners: Baltimore City Department of Transportation, Baltimore City Department of Planning, South Baltimore Gateway Partnership, Visit Baltimore, Baltimore Orioles, Baltimore Ravens, Office of the Mayor, Mayor's Office of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment (MOACE), Maryland Stadium Authority, Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, Create Baltimore, and BCT Design Group.

Q. Is there a way to record and post the site walk for those of us at our day jobs or not currently local?

A. The tour will be recorded and posted on the website for those who weren't able to attend to experience the tour.

Q. Is collaboration with brands accepted — i.e., paint companies that make materials for art specifically?

A. Collaborations and/or the use of AI tools will need to be shared in the application.

Q. How many submissions move forward to the second round?

A. 12 semi-finalists will be selected and will each receive $25k. From the 12 semi-finalists, 3 winners will be selected and will receive an additional $50k.

Q. Can the submissions be multi-disciplined?

A. Yes, submissions can be multi-disciplined.

Q. Will the three winning submissions definitely get built?

A. The intention of the design competition is to build the winning designs.

Q. Are corridor boundaries clearly defined?

A. Yes. The three corridors are clearly defined and identified on the map provided in the competition materials. However, the exact placement of a proposed design within the designated landscape has not been predetermined and will depend on the specific design concept and site conditions within each corridor.

Q. How is jurisdiction split between MDOT SHA and the City?

A. Entrants are required to respect both MDOT SHA and Baltimore DOT requirements, and both agencies sit on the Review Panel. A corridor-by-corridor jurisdictional breakdown has not yet been published.

Q. What structural, clearance, or sightline standards apply near active traffic lanes?

A. We are currently in Phase One of the creative concept development. Applicable structural, clearance, and sightline standards will be governed by the relevant MDOT SHA and Baltimore City DOT design guidelines, as referenced in the entrant resources. These standards will apply to any proposed installation located near or adjacent to active traffic lanes and will be provided to the semi-finalists as they advance in the competition.

Q. Are there structural constraints or utilities that would need relocation, and who covers that cost?

A. We are currently in Phase I of the creative concept submission process. Any structural constraints or utility relocation requirements will be determined based on the selected design. Any required relocation or related costs will not be the responsibility of the designer.

Q. What is the permitting pathway once a design is selected?

A. Corridor winners receive direct engagement with BDC, Baltimore DOT, SBGP, and corridor stakeholders to advance their design toward implementation, and Phase 2 design-build teams are selected through a separate procurement process.

Q. Does the prize money fund design only, or construction as well?

A. Prize stipends and corridor-winner awards fund concept refinement only. Construction is funded separately in Phase 2, with up to $3 million budgeted for design-build implementation across all three corridors — roughly $1 million per corridor if divided evenly, though an even split is not guaranteed.

Q. Should Phase 1 submissions be fully buildable, or conceptual?

A. Phase 1 is explicitly an Open Ideas Competition and is concept-level. Phase 2 is a separate Design-Build Implementation phase with its own team selection process, so Phase 1 concepts inform, but are not required to be, construction-ready.

Q. Is Phase 2 construction funding already secured?

A. The $3 million figure is presented as a budget ceiling; confirmed, appropriated funding status has not been published.

Q. What durability and material expectations apply?

A. Designs should account for material longevity, seasonal variation, maintenance requirements, and resilience to weather and vehicular impact. Long-term stewardship is explicitly valued in the evaluation.

Q. How much weight does community engagement carry in scoring, and is engagement required before submission?

A. Community engagement is encouraged, not required, prior to submission. On scoring, Inclusivity and Community Benefit is weighted at 15%.

Q. Who serves on the jury?

A. Individual panelists will be announced at the competition launch. Participating organizations include, but are not limited to: Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC), the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture and Entertainment, Baltimore Orioles, Baltimore Ravens, Baltimore City Department of Transportation, South Baltimore Gateway Partnership (SBGP), Visit Baltimore, Baltimore City Department of Planning, MDOT SHA, Neighborhood Design Center, Create Baltimore, the Maryland Stadium Authority, and local small business representatives from each corridor zone.

Q. Do the three gateway designs need to feel unified, or can each be distinct?

A. Entrants may submit for one, two, or all three corridors, with each evaluated independently, which suggests no unification requirement.

Q. What ADA, pedestrian, and cyclist accessibility standards apply?

A. Pedestrian safety and multimodal connectivity are a full scoring category. The Russell Street corridor is specifically cited as having only one fully accessible intersection crossing today. A specific ADA code citation is not included in current materials.

Q. Are there sustainability or environmental resilience requirements?

A. No mandates currently exist. Native planting and green gateway elements appear only as optional design toolkit items.

Q. Is public safety (lighting, visibility, anti-loitering design) a scored criterion?

A. Not as a standalone category — it is currently folded into the broader pedestrian-safety criterion.

Q. What's the difference between being a finalist and being a corridor winner?

A. Up to 12 winning concepts (up to 4 per corridor) receive a stipend to further develop their concept. From that pool, one corridor winner per corridor is selected for additional funding and direct agency engagement toward Phase 2, confirming a refinement stage between the two designations.

Q. Can one team submit designs for more than one corridor?

A. Yes. Entrants may submit for one, two, or all three gateway corridors, and each submission is evaluated independently. Each corridor holds a separate prize.

Q. Who owns the intellectual property in a submitted design?

A. Entrants retain ownership of their original concepts. By submitting, entrants grant BDC and its partners a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use materials for exhibition, publication, and the Design Baltimore Gateways Guidebook. Concepts selected for Phase 2 implementation are subject to separate design-build agreements with their own compensation and IP terms.