Lawrence Technological University (LTU) has announced the winners of its first-ever “Third Place” Design Competition. The winning student teams will share a total of $2,000 in prize money and possibly see their concepts used in the design and construction of a new business in the Southfield City Centre district.
The term “third place” describes a public space frequented by individuals seeking a relaxing and fun social environment. Examples of third places include bars, restaurants, coffee shops, wireless cafes, laundromats, and delicatessens. By contrast, the “first place” is referred to as home — where the bulk of a person’s time is spent — and the “second place” is the workplace or school.
“It has been a common conversation among students on the LTU campus that they need a ‘third place’ to hang out and meet off the university grounds,” says LTU Dean of Students Kevin Finn. “The goal of the competition is to have the students design a ‘university-community’ type of establishment they can walk to in the Southfield City Centre district. It will be a prime gathering place for Lawrence Tech students, faculty, alumni and members of the community.”
Twelve teams of LTU students entered the competition. Their submissions were judged in four categories: overall interior design, atmosphere, name/logo/branding, and menu. The winning team in each category receives a $500 cash prize, along with an iPad for recipients of the Best Atmosphere award. The winners will receive their prizes at LTU’s Student Leadership Awards Banquet on April 17, 2012 at the Skyline Club in Southfield. The winning designs are:
- Best Overall Interior Design: “The Hub” – Abby Schroeder and Gena Briolat
- Best Atmosphere: “Larry’s” – Erik Slagter
- Best Name/Logo/Branding: “Larry’s” – Erik Slagter
- Best Menu: “The Pint and Pitchfork” – Michael Knoff and Deanna Hewitt
Next year, the winning “third place” designs may be adapted and constructed in an existing, unused property in the City Centre Plaza on Evergreen Road at Ten Mile Road. Meanwhile, the second phase of the competition takes place this fall when LTU students will be invited to develop and submit business plans for the “third place.”
“This is an exciting competition for Lawrence Tech students and for stakeholders in the Southfield City Centre district,” says City of Southfield’s Director of Planning Terry Croad.
AICP, ASLA. “The contest fits perfectly into our overall vision to transform the area into a pedestrian-friendly, vibrant lifestyle center with a variety of restaurant and retail options. We certainly had some impressive and creative ideas from the LTU students for the type of place they would like to see in the City Centre. ”
Croad was a judge for the competition, along with representatives from the other sponsoring organizations: Tower Real Estate Ventures, LLC (President Hassan Jawad) and Lawrence Technological University (Dean of Students Kevin Finn, Student Government President Phil Lucas, and Entrepreneurship Coordinator Katie Jolly). The judges also took into consideration hundreds of votes cast by LTU students, faculty and staff.
About Lawrence Technological University
Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers more than 100 programs through the doctoral level in its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Management. Students benefit from small class sizes and experienced faculty who provide a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 102-acre campus, located at West Ten Mile Road and the Lodge Freeway Service Drive, include over 60 student groups and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) varsity sports.
About Southfield City Centre
The Southfield City Centre district is the roughly triangular area defined by Evergreen Road, Interstate-696 and the Lodge Freeway (M-10). The district’s boundary extends outward from this triangle in two places to include Southfield’s Municipal Complex and Lawrence Technological University. The City Centre area has 13,000 office workers and seven universities and colleges. The entire city of Southfield is home to more than eighty Fortune 500 companies. Businesses and residents are attracted to Southfield because of its central location, great public services, and easy access to freeways. For more information on the City Centre district, contact Southfield’s Director of Planning Terry Croad at 248.796.4154 or tcroad@cityofsouthfield.com.
