by
Queen Elizabeth II National Memorial
An open search for an exceptionally dedicated and inspired multidisciplinary team to create a landmark memorial masterplan of outstanding aesthetic quality.
The competition is being directed by the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee (QEMC) and the Cabinet Office, a ministerial department of the United Kingdom Government.
Envisaged as a celebration of Elizabeth II as well as a place of reflection, the memorial project needs to tell the story of a long reign and be beautiful, inclusive and sustainable. The site traverses London’s Grade I listed St James’s Park from Marlborough Gate on The Mall covering land surrounding the pathway to, and including, the Blue Bridge and across to Birdcage Walk.
The design should be on a scale that is appropriate to the late Queen’s standing as a Queen Regnant, Britain’s longest reigning sovereign and a respected global figure. Through integrated design, landscaping and placemaking, the memorial masterplan should create an emotionally powerful place. This needs to inspire national and international visitors with celebratory aspects as well as offer gardens for individual reflection and all-year planting that engages the senses.
Location
Sector
Masterplanning
Tender Portal
Tender Stage
Qualification for Design Competition
Deadline
20 January 2025, 14:00 hours (local time)
Project Value/Scale
£23-46m
Consultant Team
Architect / Lead Designer (Creative Lead)
Contractual Lead
Artist
Landscape Architect
Planning Consultant
Heritage
Structural Engineer
MEP
Digital Designer
Project Manager
Cost Consultant
Principal Designer
Optional:
Lighting Designer / Curator / Ecologist / Accessibility Consultant / Wayfinding Consultant / Sustainability Consultant / Logistic Consultant / Security Consultant
Contractual Lead
Artist
Landscape Architect
Planning Consultant
Heritage
Structural Engineer
MEP
Digital Designer
Project Manager
Cost Consultant
Principal Designer
Optional:
Lighting Designer / Curator / Ecologist / Accessibility Consultant / Wayfinding Consultant / Sustainability Consultant / Logistic Consultant / Security Consultant
Submission Criteria
Five teams will be shortlisted to participate in stage two. The competition honorarium paid to each of the shortlisted design teams will be £50,000.
Stage 1 Expression of Interest (presented in A4 landscape):
– Practice Profile (15%) – Highlighting your design philosophy, skills and competencies, as well as any design awards and peer recognition. Plus short CVs of the key Creative Lead(s) (1 page)
– Proposed Team Composition (35%) – Demonstrate the relevant skills and expertise within your integrated, multidisciplinary design team for undertaking this project. Identify the key individuals from each core discipline, and a proposed project organogram. (5 pages)
– Relevant Experience (50%) – Details of three relevant previous projects. These should be projects within a significant cultural, heritage and/or landscape context, that make an important contribution to the cultural and social life of that location. At least two of your example projects must be from the firm proposed as the Creative Lead (6 pages)
Not included in the page count of the expression of interest: Selection Questionnaire (pass/fail) and Media Statement (150 words) and Images (not scored).
The stage two submission requirements are anticipated to
include presentation boards, a design portfolio, commercial proposal and technical design booklet (including an area schedule and scaled drawings). The Cabinet Office and the Committee will hold a clarification meeting with each competitor before evaluating the competitors’ stage two submissions and determining the winner using the Award Criteria set out in the Competition Conditions.