San Jose Landmark Contest Receives Nearly 1,000 Creative Submissions

SAN JOSE—Landmarks play a large role in real estate vis-à-vis increased property values and tax revenues. The most iconic cities have cultural landmarks. Of course, Paris has the Eiffel Tower, New York City has the Statute of Liberty and San Francisco has the Golden Gate Bridge.

As the tech mecca of the country, it could be assumed that San Jose would have an architectural icon of its own, which it does not. But that is about to change.

San Jose Light Tower Corporation recently closed submissions for its worldwide competition, Urban Confluence Silicon Valley, to construct a landmark in San Jose. The entrants ranged from architects to designers to engineers to environmentalists, all hoping to get the chance to bring their visions to life, Jon Ball, board chair of Urban Confluence Silicon Valley, says. UCSV received almost 1,000 submissions from architects, urban planners and placemakers from more than 72 countries and six continents to create this landmark using different architectural, tech and design elements.

“We are elated over the massive amount of interest in our design competition,” said Ball. “With the state of the world today, what could be more relevant than connecting people? Today, we are one step closer to creating an outdoor space that brings our community together in this critical natural setting. Since inception, our goal has been to create a world-class visitor experience much like the Eiffel Tower, St. Louis Arch and Statue of Liberty.”

The local community competition panel and jury members will be looking for a transformative design with an impressive physical presence and a net-zero energy approach that will become a destination representing Silicon Valley past to present to future.

After the community competition panel meets and recommends up to 50 designs, a jury of architects, environmentalists and designers will choose three finalists next month. UCSV will give each finalist $150,000 plus the chance to refine and redevelop a project plan with a team of artists, engineers and urban planners. Once that is complete, one winning team will transform Arena Green at Guadalupe River Park and Gardens with a destination landmark.

“Not only will this boost tourism in San Jose once it’s complete but it is also a huge driving factor for downtown San Jose real estate,” Ball tells GlobeSt.com.  “The winner will be able to transform this park into an iconic landmark where visitors will feel a compelling world-class experience–one worthy of more than just a photo-op.”

A downtown park spanning the confluence of the Guadalupe River and Los Gatos Creek, Arena Green has two banks on which a landmark can be placed. The landmark will be presented as a gift to San Jose and aims to give Santa Clara County “an enduring and unique design that advances humanity in the world’s epicenter of innovation”.

The project has raised more than $1.5 million to date with fundraising efforts ongoing. Construction of the winning design is expected to start in 2022.

Local philanthropists launched the international design competition last year in search of an architect/designer who would be able to create a landmark for San Jose. The idea of the landmark came more than 100 years after San Jose’s city symbol, a 237-foot light tower, collapsed after a windstorm, GlobeSt.com learns.