Architecture students from Tulane University received prizes and recognition for their renderings of new streetscapes and pedestrian-friendly storefronts for “University Village”, a long-standing retail strip, located on Claiborne Avenue and Calhoun Street. The awards were the result of a Tulane Architecture school class project/competition. The effort was spearheaded by the Claiborne-University Neighborhood Association (CUNA), Tulane’s School of Architecture, through Dr. Stephen Verderber, and various neighborhood retailers and property owners. The competition was organized to generate design concepts for the re-branding of the commercial district, while turning the area into an urban focal point for the neighborhood. The competition was also seen as another way to help garner more interest and support from the neighborhood and the nearby university campuses.

The project was launched at the beginning of the fall semester. Throughout the course, the students toured the retail district , which is anchored by such institutions as Ted’s Frostop, Bud’s Broiler, and Blockbuster Video. With Verderber, a CUNA member, leading the class, the students also received feedback from several business and property owners in the neighborhood. The renderings were displayed and discussed at Tulane throughout the semester. The effort culminated on November 30^th, ,when submittals were judged by a five-person panel of design professionals: Verderber, along with architect and city planner Allen Eskew, AIA, Collette Creppell, lead architect for Tulane University, local architect and CUNA member Jay P. Dufour, AIA, and contractor and architect Robert Stumm. The top three winners were announced at a neighborhood Fiesta, which took place at University Village’s newest business, Felipe’s Mexican Taqueria on South Miro Street.

Cash prizes totaling $2,500 were awarded to the following student teams:

• First Place Award ($1,000.00)Matthew Shaver
• Second Place Award($750.00): Trevor Meeks and Vincent Cangiamilla
• Third Place Award ($500.00): Steve Smith and Chris Halbrooks
• Honorable Mention 1 ($250.00): Heather Skeehan and Keely Williams

Special thanks to the business owners who supported the effort in-kind and in prize money.
They are:

• Loubar LLC
• Robert Stumm, Elio Todaro, owners of Felipe’s
• Hilmi Abdeljalil, owner of Pyramids Café
• Bud’s Broiler
• Louie Corzo, Papa John’s Pizza

Results of the competition will be incorporated into the GNOF Unified Planning District 3 Report.

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