RUNNER-UP SKYLIGHT MARKET SpeakPlaza METAL CLADDING PV PANEL ON TOP OF METAL CLADDING Mert Kansu and Yimeng Teng, VMDO Architects RIB PLATES ANGULAR PLATE STEEL PAVILION DECORATIVE METAL CLADDING Mert Kansu and Yimeng Teng of VMDO Architects proposed a civic mixed-use plaza in Richmond, Va., that focuses on public engagement, community programs, and sustainability. Their design incorporates steel plates to create an expressive folding form. The folding form design of the project aligns perfectly with structural steel, with an expressive plate structure inside and decorative metal cladding on the exterior. Together with the development of Belt Blvd., the core of the design aligns with the Richmond 300 Masterplan for walkability, connectivity, and growth. The center of the plaza remains open and accessible, as a free place for movement and expression, and sur-rounding the plaza is an indoor marketplace to accommodate com-mercial needs, a pavilion for events and future connection across Belt Blvd., a park and community program zone, and underground parking. On the very edge next to the parking entrance, a smaller structure houses changing rooms and a coffee shop and also pro-vides electric car charging stations. ANGULAR PLATE STEEL RIB PLATES MARKET AMPHITHEATER “It is a great opportunity and tremendous learning experience to participate in the Forge Prize. The two months after being selected as a fi nalist is a journey of creativity fi lled with research, discussion, and design. We are lucky to be guided and advised by our three jury members in the early stage and really start to think of ways to enrich the design with features that will have a long-term community impact. As designers, we will keep using creativity as a powerful tool to understand and interact with the environment we live in.” —Mert Kansu and Yimeng Teng PLAZA PAVILION BELT BLVD 56 | JUNE 2021
Modern Steel Construction June 2021: Page 56
