The Shade Zones Design Competition, in partnership with LA Metro, will focus on modular temporary shade designs that can be adapted to fit a wide variety of real-world use cases. Metro is developing a regional ‘kit of parts’ to activate and enhance temporary pedestrian and cyclist pathways and mobility hubs to support access to venues. The ‘kit of parts’ supports events-focused needs through temporary deployments to accommodate high volumes of people walking, biking, and rolling from transit to venues. Modular temporary shade is an integral component of the kit of parts, enhancing comfort and supporting climate mitigation.

The Shade Zones Design Competition invites participants to design temporary shade that can protect people — with a focus on vulnerable street users, such as pedestrians and bicyclists — from extreme heat by ensuring that designs produce quality shade during the most vulnerable times of the summer day (e.g., peak heat hours: 12pm-4pm ). Quality shade must block direct exposure to sunlight, assessed by the lack of shadow in the area of blocked sunlight.

Submission Requirements

• A single 36 inch x 48 inch poster in portrait that includes:
  • Concept + Rationale (max. 300 words)
  • Image of the design, including superimposed on site (min. 2 images)
  • Design, structural strategy, material selection, and construction sequence
  • Sustainability and re-use strategy
  • Diagrams, sketches, design development

Prizes

• Award of Excellence (Top 3 submissions overal)
• Award for Innovation (Most forward-thinking and creative design)
• Award for Sustainability (Best sustainability oriented design)
• Honourable Mention Awards (1 per scale category: Smal, Medium, Large, Multi-Scale)
• Fan Favourite Award (Selected by public vote via ShadeLA website)

Eligibility

• The competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students from any school, college, or university within Los Angeles County.
• Students will need to form teams (maximum of 4 members per team, solo participants are also eligible) and identify an institutional mentor or supervisor (e.g., faculty, lecturer, supervisor, school administrator, etc.)
• All team members must be from the same institution. Teams can also participate through their courses (e.g., design studios), if available at their institution.