Q. If one team member was born and raised in Washington D.C., but other team members are originally from other places, and all team members attend school outside the Washington D.C. area, would the team be a good fit for the challenge?
A. Take the eligibility quiz to see if your team is a good fit.
Q. If a team decides to complete a Phase 1 application, does the jury want the collective portfolio we submit to match the aesthetic of the "Possible Design Firms" designs, or is having a distinct aesthetic fine if it shows the team is competent enough to represent their work clearly?
A. Applicant entries do not need to relate to the ‘Possible Design Firms’ listed below the Challenge information. Successfully illustrating a desired aesthetic is expected.
Q. What is the jury is looking for, to advance to the next phase?
A. The Phase 1 application will be live on January 3, 2023. The application will include specific elements applying teams will need to address to be considered for Phase 2.
Q. If a team advances to Phase 2, what exactly is an "architectural element?" Is there a definition or example to reference?
A. Details about the ‘architectural element,’ and the associated criteria, can be found in both the Phase 2 and Selection of Winning Teams sections of the Full Rules and Requirements found on the web page. Additional details will be provided to the teams that reach Phase 2 of the challenge.
Q. Is the winning team expected to be available to work full time in DC for one to three years at the conclusion of the challenge? Or is there a different option for applicants still in school?
A. The one-to-three-year paid positions on the Bezos Learning Center build team are intended to be in Washington, DC. The Museum can provide a certain amount of flexibility, if needed.
Q: Who will have intellectual property rights of winning project and entry material?
A: The Smithsonian will own all designs and have worldwide rights.
This follows clause 252.227-7022 of Smithsonian design contracts, which states “The Government shall have unlimited rights, in all drawings, designs, specifications, notes and other works developed in the performance of this contract, including the right to use same on any other Government design or construction without additional compensation to the Contractor. The Contractor hereby grants to the government a paid-up license throughout the world to all such works to which he may assert or establish any claim under design patent or copyright laws. The Contractor for a period of three (3) years after completion of the project agrees to furnish the original or copies of all such works on the request of the Contracting Officer.”
Q: Will Smithsonian retain ownership of all entries?
A: Smithsonian will retain ownership of the selected design only.
Q: Will selected teams be compensated for time spent during the design sprint?
A: Team selected for Phase 2 will not be compensated for time spent on their submission.
Q: Does the design sample submitted in Phase 1 need to be specific to the Bezos Learning Center or previous projects related to the museum environment?
A: The sample only needs to communicate the team’s overall design aesthetic, in general, it does not need to be a bespoke example for the Bezos Learning Center. That will come in Phase 2, for those teams that are selected to move on.
