On Wednesday, April 30, 2008, the UTSA College of Architecture, in conjunction with the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA), hosted the judging for the 2008 Lende Design Competition. Each of the 150- second year architecture and interior design students presented a design for a mixed use project known as Ars Longa. The project defines a plaza across Jones Avenue from SAMA. The hypothetical plaza follows the general outline of one shown in the River North Charette. The site is also on the Museum Reach of the River Walk extension project.

The project criteria stated that it should attract businesses and individuals directly involved in what writer Richard Florida has called the “creative economy.” Designs for the project therefore needed to make a statement as to concept, innovation, quality of life, etc. Features in the individual studentproposals included: a two story colonnade surrounding the plaza, with room for outdoor dining; roof-top gardens

for insulation; art galleries and studios open to streets inside the buildings; and even a go-cart track on the roof.

Ten awards, ranging from $1,000 to $300 were donated by Bill Lende, a resident of downtown San Antonio who initiated the competition to encourage creative thinking about the future of our historic inner-city. The awards were announced at SAMA in an event that was open to the public. Judges for the design competition included Tim Blonkvist, FAIA, Overland Partners; Ed Cross II, Cross & Co., Commercial Realth Advisors; James Lifshutz, Liberty Properties Development Group; Mike McGlone, AIA Alamo Architects; Santino Medina, an alumnus of UTSA and Archeworks, in Chicago; Richard Mogas, AIA, Mogas & Associates Architects Inc.; David Rubin, The Brown Foundation Curator for Contemporary Art, SAMA; and Bob Sohn, Attorney Strategic Planner.