Q. Is it a requirement to partner with community groups surrounding these sites?
A. While it's understandable what benefits come with working directly with a community near or affected by a decommissioned military base, it's certainly not a requirement. When it comes to places like Guantanamo (or, I guess more technically, the Johnston Atoll), we recognize accessibility would be a challenge, if not itself a restriction.
We encourage your team to pursue partnerships with site-affected communities so far as is prudent, but otherwise a "best guess" will work just fine!
Q. Do you have rules about past competition winners entering and possibly earning awards in future competitions?
A. No. See Eligibility.
Q. Do I live in a Developing Nation as defined by the World Bank?
A. Better check out our Developing Countries List based on World Bank classifications. "Developing" for the competition are residents of countries with a Gross National Index per capita less than $3975. 91 countries qualify.
Q. What types of sites will qualify? Would you consider a former underground civil defense bunker, a missile silo, or a demilitarized boarder zone as qualifying sites?
A. Yes. In general the site or structure qualifies as long as (1) it is/was either a government owned with a military objective or a militarized zone, AND (2) it is abandoned or decommissioned.
Q. What defines a civic space? Meaning what type of program can be classified as socially, economically, and environmentally 'good'?
A. It is important to remember that access by the public to the previously active military base or militarized zone was restricted at one time. Even as a decommissioned base or abandoned building, the site still may not allow for public use of the space. The Challenge Team is hoping to revitalize these spaces to allow unrestricted access to the highest number of users. There is no universal standard as to what constitutes “good” programming or what will draw the most number of users (whether it be social, economic, or environmental). Participants are encouraged to work with the local community and stakeholders to decide what might be most appropriate and what might contribute most to the community for each unique site.
Q. Can a residential program be incorporated into the site, making it a mixed-use project?
Yes. Residential programing is acceptable, and we encourage mixed-uses. We suggest a minimum low-income component of 15% if residential programing is included into the project. Entirely residential proposals are discouraged.
Q. I have identified a large military area in the neighbourhood, but it has no military instalations. It never had any specific use. I would like to know if in this case it would be eligible for the project.
The base doesn't need to have installations on it - it sounds like a workable project.
Q. I am based in a developing nation but am temporarily living in a developed nation-do I need to pay the registration fee?
If you are only temporarily located in the first world, you may qualify as a developing nation registrant. However, please consider that registration fees go directly toward the prize amounts for finalists. The competition would appreciate that those who are able to pay the registration fee do so.
Q. There are examples of military sites that have been reused by the military following their decommission-can these sites qualify for the competition.
Yes. Any site that is inactive and not slated for new activity can be a project site for the competition.
