Editor’s note: Organizers have changed the times of the the event due to excessive heat warnings. This article has been updated.
CitySand, the sand sculpture contest that showcases the creativity of local design and construction professionals, is coming back to Harborplace on Saturday, June 22.
Nine teams of architects, landscape architects and contractors will compete for the “Golden Shovel’ and “People’s Choice” awards on the plaza between the two Harborplace pavilions at Pratt and Light streets, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The event is a throwback to contests held from 1989 to 2012, when members of the Baltimore chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) took over the harbor shoreline for an afternoon. The event was discontinued when Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation bought the pavilions in 2012 and brought back last year when MCB Real Estate acquired them.
MCB has plans to tear down the pavilions and replace them with a $500 million development that will include two residential towers containing 900 apartments, offices, shops, restaurants and open space, but it needs voter approval to move ahead with its plans. In the meantime, the company has worked to plan events and bring in temporary retail tenants who can help draw people to the Inner Harbor.
The primary sponsors of this year’s contest are the Baltimore Architecture Foundation, an AIA affiliate; MCB and its Harborplace division; the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore and Southway Builders.
Last year’s theme was “Reimagining Harborplace.” This year’s theme is “Celebrating Baltimore’s Neighborhoods.” Participating teams are: Architecture By Design; BCT Design Group; Design Collective; Gensler; Hanbury; LandDesign; Moffat Nichol; Moseley Architects and Ruppert Landscape.
Each team will be assigned an area that measures 10 feet by 10 feet by one foot deep, about 3.7 cubic yards worth of sand. The teams provide their own forms, shovels, tools and buckets. No power tools, paint, additives, armatures, frameworks or accessories are allowed; only sand and water are permitted.
The nine sand sculptures will be judged starting at 12:30 p.m. and the winners will be announced shortly after 1 p.m.
The event benefits the Baltimore Architecture Foundation, a non-profit organization that encourages people to learn about Baltimore’s architectural history and future through lectures, educational programs, exhibitions, research, publications, tours and events, including the Doors Open Baltimore weekend in the fall. Additional sponsors include STV; Gray and Son; C.L. McCoy Framing Co. Inc.; Carter Lumber and Ecological Restoration & Management (ER&M).
“This family-friendly event provides an outlet for local architects, design firms and landscape designers to shine, using their own unique vision and ideas,” said Southway CEO Willy Moore, in a statement. “Watching the teams start from nothing but a pile of sand and then observing as they create a beautiful sand sculpture is delightful for local residents as well as tourists.”
“We are bringing back CitySand for a second year because we had such success last year, engaging with the local community and seeing the creativity of our industry,” said P. David Bramble, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of MCB Real Estate, in a statement. “We look forward to seeing how each team will incorporate this year’s Baltimore Neighborhoods theme and we welcome the community to come down to see the talents, imagination and ingenuity of these amazing teams.”
