OCULUS 2008 Editorial Calendar
If you are an architect by training or see yourself as an astute observer of New York’s architectural and planning scene, note that OCULUS editors are looking for writers for the Fall and Winter issues. The themes:

Fall OCULUS: Practice. Focus of this year’s Practice issue is on the architectural office — the culture and decision-making structure of NY-based practices, how the office’s design reflects the culture, along with the views key players in the firm.

Winter OCULUS: Competing for Space. Explore the growing competition between expansionist institutions on limited sites and the interests of adjacent communities, many in residential areas with moderate-income families.

If you’re interested, please contact OCULUS editor-in-chief Kristen Richards. with a brief outline and full contact information.

Spring 2008: closed
Summer 2008: closed
06.01.08 Fall 2008: Practice
08.01.08 Winter 2008-09: Competing for Space

03.31.08 Call for Nominations: Sustainable Cities Award
Financial Times and the Urban Land Institute (FT ULI) will acknowledge exceptional examples of sustainable land use models that exhibit significant new ideas and perspectives for future practice. Nominations should demonstrate financial viability and be replicable with a capacity to inspire others. The Awards will recognize real estate programs in corporate strategic programs, public agency initiatives, non-governmental organization programs, and private development company initiatives. Up to seven winners will be the closing highlight of the first-ever Sustainable Cities conference in London on 06.16.08.

04.04.08 Call for Entries: SMPS National Marketing Communications Awards
The Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) awards program recognizes excellence in marketing communications by professional services firms in the design and building industry. The competition, composed of 18 marketing communications categories, and is open to both SMPS members and nonmembers. Award winners will be announced and honored at a multimedia, black-tie Awards Gala in August, during Build Business: Innovate to Elevate, the 2008 SMPS/PSMA National Conference in Denver, CO.

04.04.08 Call for Entries: Metropolis Smart Environments Awards
The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and Metropolis magazine request entries for awards to recognize interiors that integrate excellence in design, human well-being, and sustainability. Interior projects completed after 01.01.05 are eligible. Winners will be announced at the NeoCon World’s Trade Fair 2008 in Chicago and will be considered for publication in Metropolis.

04.07.08 Call for Entries: Bombay Sapphire Designer Glass Competition
The Bombay Sapphire Foundation invites emerging US designers to design a martini cocktail glass inspired by Bombay Sapphire Gin. The first prize is $3,000 in gift certificates. The competition is running in other countries as well, and each national winner will be invited to the London Design Festival in September 2008 to compete in the global final. The overall winner will receive £10,000 in prize money.

04.16.08 Call for Entries: 2008 AIA/UK Chapter Excellence in Design Awards Programme
This awards program honors excellence in design by architects anywhere in the world for projects in the UK as well as UK-based architects for projects anywhere in the world.

04.20.08 Call for Ideas: White House Redux
What if the White House were to be designed today? On occasion of the election of the 44th President of the U.S., the Storefront for Art and Architecture, in association with Control Group, challenges designers to design a new residence for the “world’s most powerful individual.” The best ideas, designs, descriptions, images, and videos will be featured in a month-long exhibition at Storefront in July 2008. Three winners will be flown to NYC to collect their prizes at the opening party.

04.25.08 Call for Applications: 2008 Frederick P. Rose Architectural Fellowship
The Fellowship creates partnerships between emerging architects and community-based organizations to direct the skills and passions of the architects in the service of low and moderate-income communities. It is designed to promote the value of quality design and green building in affordable housing, and encourages architects to become lifelong leaders in public service and community development. Applications are now available for four new Rose Fellowship opportunities in diverse communities from San Francisco to East Biloxi, Mississippi, and Downtown Minneapolis to rural Minnesota.

04.28.08 Call for Expressions of Interest: Living Steel Extreme Housing Competition
The third international architecture competition presents architects with the task of creating energy efficient, single-family, detached housing that minimizes climate change emissions and can withstand temperature extremes, yet is affordable to build and buy. Entrants must be teams of two architects. Total prizes and honoraria are €100,000, with the winning design awarded €50,000. The winning architects will also construct their design in Cherepovets, Russian Federation.