April 25, 2022
Stuart Weitzman School of Design
102 Meyerson Hall
210 South 34th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
FORMA – the design-driven architecture practice led by Miroslava Brooks and Daniel Markiewicz, both Lecturers at the Weitzman School of Design – is one of three finalists shortlisted to design a new 800-foot-long multi-purpose public space on the Atlantic Ocean. The design team also includes Kyle Troyer, a current second-year MArch candidate.
Selected from over fifty international submissions during the open international competition organized by the city of Atlantic Beach in North Carolina, FORMA’s proposal ‘shakes up’ the linear boardwalk approach from mere circulation into a series of destinations each with its own character. The project features an innovative combination of large-scale street art with a rich mix of programmed decks and resilient shading structures.
"This competition has been a game-changer,” notes Atlantic Beach Mayor, Trace Cooper. “We were overwhelmed by the high level of interest and design shown by the competition submissions. It is now clear to me that every significant public building project should incorporate a competition form."
The first stage of the competition was anonymous—the jury did not know the names or locations of the firms behind each design. In the second stage of the competition, the firms refined their designs based on feedback from the town and the jury and presented their second stage design on April 13 via video conference, which can be viewed here.
Atlantic Beach intends to build a new boardwalk, a new bathhouse, and a multi-use pavilion on the site of the legendary Pavilion that anchored the boardwalk for decades before being demolished in more recent years.
Currently the town of Atlantic Beach is asking for input on the designs from the public. To supports FORMA's design, vote, and provide feedback, please visit Atlantic Beach's survey (open through April 27th).