TLA and SCAD Collaborate on a Vision for Landings Harbor Marina

The Landings Association is exploring the construction of a multi-use picnic pavilion at Landings Harbor Marina, an idea discussed for more than a decade but without concrete action. What sets this endeavor apart is the collaborative involvement by major island-wide  philanthropic organizations to provide consultative input in the design of any proposed pavilion. These organizations included Landlovers, Kiwanis, CCA, Skidaway Audubon, and New Neighbors. Additionally, the Association has collaborated with SCADpro, a group of students from Savannah College of Art and Design, to develop design concepts. Now that SCADpro's work is complete, we'd like to share the collaborative journey between SCAD and TLA in selecting potential pavilion designs.

 On a bright and windy April morning, 22 SCAD students, representing diverse corners of the globe, accompanied by two faculty members, arrived at Landings Harbor on a SCAD bus. These student participants in the Landings Harbor Picnic Pavilion Design Challenge, specialized in various design disciplines such as graphic design, interior design, design for sustainability, service design, architecture, and themed entertainment.

Upon arrival, the SCAD students engaged with the Association’s Landings Harbor Picnic Pavilion Task Force to discuss the project. During this meeting, we explored initial ideas and concepts related to the pavilion’s location, size, and potential uses. Our aim was to create a functional, innovative, and potentially iconic facility that integrates well into the Landings Harbor environment. Additionally, we addressed concerns from neighboring residents, focusing on minimizing noise, preserving green space, and maintaining views of the Wilmington River.

 

 

SCAD Students, Faculty, and Landings Community Members

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following discussions, the students toured the site, absorbing insights from Task Force members. Back at SCAD, they wasted no time presenting their preliminary designs to our Task Force within 48 hours, on a Sunday afternoon. These presentations took place in the cutting-edge Deloitte Foundry, SCAD's innovation hub overlooking Forsyth Park. 

Divided into eight teams, the SCAD students unveiled their initial designs, leaving the Task Force impressed by their creativity despite time constraints. Constructive feedback from the Task Force prompted the students to refine their designs, even amidst the pressures of school work that included studying for midterms. Bring back any memories?

One week later, on April 21, the SCAD students presented their finalized designs, complete with professional presentations and virtual flythroughs, showing us what their structures would look like if constructed at Landings Harbor. Notably, the designs seamlessly incorporated Task Force feedback, resulting in impressive final concepts.

 

 

 

 

Screen Capture from a Virtual Fly-Through

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following the final design presentations, our Task Force met with SCAD faculty to discuss our approach for evaluating the conceptual designs. Our goal was to choose three Design Challenge award winners, while providing constructive feedback to the students so they also could benefit from this experience. Our evaluation approach involved identifying objective design criteria like functionality, aesthetics, sustainability, cost effectiveness, noise abatement, proposed location, and community integration. Each Task Force member rated and scored the team designs based on these criteria.

Subsequently, we convened to review the scoring sheets and determine first, second, and third place winners, all of whom received cash prizes from SCADpro.The final step was an awards ceremony where we announced the winners.

 

 

 

Awards Ceremony and Awarding the First Place Prize

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Task Force views this process as an effective way for the Landings community to leverage local resources in acquiring a beneficial and cutting-edge amenity. It's important to clarify that no definitive decision has been made regarding a specific picnic pavilion design. Any decision will come after further deliberation and thorough engineering analysis to assess feasibility and cost implications.

Moving forward, we will closely examine the three winning SCAD designs to create a preferred conceptual design(s) for the Landings Harbor picnic pavilion. These designs will be shared with the community for objective feedback. Ultimately, we aim to strike a balance between affordability and appropriateness, ensuring the final design aligns with the community’s needs and desires.