How Auckland’s Passenger Transport Network Looks:
Final Chance To Have Your Say
11 September 2001

The final submissions in the Auckland Passenger Transport Network Branding and Theming competition will be unveiled this evening at the old CPO building for public and expert perusal and evaluation. The unveiling commences the final stage in the competition, which was launched in June to identify a single visual identity for use for all branding and theming for buses, rail, ferries and stations across the entire public transport system.

The finalists represent some of the leading design and architecture houses in the Auckland region: Sandersdesign, Alt Design Group/Architectus, Aviso, Matthews & Matthews Architects and Jasmax Consortium.

Since the finalists’ announcement four weeks ago, from a total of 32 entries, the five expert teams have spent time developing and expanding their original submissions into comprehensive design concepts. Their work goes on display today at specified locations in Manukau, Waitakere, North Shore and at the CPO in the city and will open for public feedback over the next two weeks.

Initiated by the Auckland Regional Council and North Shore City Council in conjunction with Manukau City and Waitakere City, the competition is an integral part of the councils’ ongoing plans to improve the quality of Auckland’s public transport system.

Councillor Les Paterson commented, “Displaying the final submissions around the region is vital in capturing the attention of each community and ensuring the public have the opportunity to take part in the most critical stage of the design process. It is exciting to see such a high calibre of professionalism in a competition that will determine the eventual re-branding of our public transport system for the years to come.”

"The entrants have been challenged to push the boundaries in delivering their second submissions," noted Tony van Raat, Head of Unitec's School of Architecture and convenor of the competition judging panel. "Each submission is required to address a raft of complex issues not only of regional identity and cultural sensitivity,
but also the more pragmatic but no less involved issues of technical resolution, cost of construction, ongoing maintenance, etc."

The judging panel will be deliberating for two weeks, assessing the submissions against a wide range of criteria with consideration to the general public feedback. The competition’s Phase 1 evaluation drew nearly 80 forms of feedback from the general public, reflected in the final decision.

The eventual roll out of the concepts will be determined in conjunction with the development of the rail corridors and North Shore Busway. Detailed information about the competition can be found at http://www.arc.govt.nz/news/news.htm#tnbc. All entries can be viewed at:
Former CPO at the bottom of Queen St, Monday 10 – Wednesday 19 Sept.
Botany Town Centre, Monday 17 – Sunday 30 Sept.
Westfield Shoppingtown WestCity, Monday 10 – Sunday 16 Sept.
Westfield Shoppingtown Glenfield, Wednesday 12 – 16 Sunday Sept.
Westfield Shoppingtown Shore City, Monday 17 – Sunday 23 Sept.
Westfield Shoppingtown Manukau, Monday 10 – Sunday 16 Sept.

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