It is funny that nobody nitcoe that all the firms have one common connection; Harvard University, Graduate School of Design. Good design is great but local design is better. The only submission head team member with a Mississippi river background is Ken Smith, I believe he is originally from Iowa. It is a sad state of affairs where of lack of self confidence from the city of Minneapolis, to extract big idea designs from around the world and feel that a local design firm could not accomplish the same result sends a clear message to the rest of the country. No talent lies in the streets of this city. To put a national name brand design team on a project, what does that mean, more investors, more national recognition?I am mystified why a design college would solicit ideas from entities outside their jurisdiction. Is that not what the U of M College of Design' does? Design! A project like this is extremely unique. Why was this competition not kept in-house so the people that know the banks of the Mississippi, the people that actually use the area and have to live, work and visual experience the design proposal as it matures have their day in the spot light?These are great questions to ask of all cities. Why hire outside the region? Is there not enough talent residing here in Minnesota? So that's the result, some good ideas, some bad ideas but no clear winner. That's my rant. Think globally but act locally.

by Moniza 05:10:48 AM 2012.12.10