$10,000 toilet design

Designing a sustainable, “off the grid” roadside rest stop could earn the designer as much as $10,000 in an international competition being sponsored by the California Department of Transportation and the Great Valley Center, with the support of the American Institute of Architects, California Council, and private organizations.

The sponsors contend the contest will help develop a concept which could be used throughout the state.

The site for purposes of the competition is the Tipton rest area site along Highway 99 in Tulare County. The site currently handles nearly three million travelers per year.

While the design will be required to address the larger sustainability and interpretive issues, it will also be required to provide an image and identity reflecting this region of California’s Central Valley.

The competition will see redevelopment of the existing rest area, with the winning design including interpretive elements that provide opportunities for visitors to better understand the unique qualities and products of the region.

The competition will be conducted from early January through mid-April 2006, and is open to all architects, landscape architects, urban designers, planners, engineers, educators, students and others interested in sustainability issues.

A briefing for competitors will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2006 at the Great Valley Center, 201 Needham St., Modesto 95354. Call (209) 522-5103 for details.

Tags: off-the-grid