Program in Real Estate Student Wins Design Competition
Robert ‘Bim’ Krumhansl, dual Master of Professional Studies Real Estate and Landscape Architecture, won the People’s Choice for the Downtown Fargo Urban-Infill Competition and received a $1,000 prize. As President of the Cornell Design and Planning group, Mr. Krumhansl worked with with Kevin Gill (Master of Landscape Architecture), Dasha Mikic (Master of City and Regional Planning), Heather Blaikie (Master of Landscape Architecture), and Chuijing Kong (Master of Landscape Architecture). The Cornell team competed against 160 entries from 23 countries. The competition included professional firms, students, and independent designers. A gallery of the entries can be viewed at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/56362657@N05/sets/72157625490317012/show/
This was a one time competition organized by The Kilbourne Group, a developer in Fargo, North Dakota. According to its website, the Kilbourne Group is a collective team led by Doug Burgum that is committed to inspiring and supporting the redevelopment of downtown Fargo. The company delivers on its vision by both revitalizing existing buildings and creating new ones that reflect respect for the past, gratitude for the present and innovation for the future.
There were two categories of awards: the Jury Awards and The People’s Choice Awards. The Cornell team won first place in the People’s Choice Awards, which was based upon votes cast at a public exhibition in downtown Fargo.
As president of Cornell Design and Planning Group (an interdisciplinary student group funded by the Graduate and Professional Student Agency), Mr. Krumhansl registered and recruited a group to compete in the competition earlier this Fall. In addition to organizing and advertising various speakers, workshops, competitions, news, and events, the Design and Planning Group typically puts together an interdisciplinary team to address a design/planning challenge each semester. Last year they provided conceptual designs and plans for a relief housing neighborhood in Haiti. Due to the fact that many of Design and Planning Group’s members are interested in Urban Design, Mr. Krumhansl felt that the Fargo competition was a good fit. He announced the competition and the team was quickly and enthusiastically formed.
Mr. Krumhansl credits the Residential Development course taught by Program in Real Estate Professor Pike Oliver, for providing the experience which informed his input throughout the design process.
For more information on the competition please visit: http://competition.kilbournegroup.com/