PROFESSORS CHO AND JULL WIN INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION FOR REDESIGN OF ATLANTIC BEACH BOARDWALK

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The Town of Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, used an international design competition to select the architects to lead the design of a major upgrade to its oceanside boardwalk and surrounding areas. Over 50 architecture and landscape architecture firms submitted designs for the competition. After narrowing the field to three finalists, the competition jury selected KUTONOTUK, the design practice led by Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture Leena Cho and Associate Professor of Architecture Matthew Jull.

Second place went to FORMA from New York City. Third place was awarded to Lewis Williams of Hudson Architects in Norwich, England. Atlantic Beach Mayor, Trace Cooper, noted that “the jury had a very difficult decision—all three finalists submitted excellent designs, and any one of them would have led to a great new boardwalk.”

The jury ultimately chose KUTONOTUK because of how well their approach integrated ecology back into the boardwalk while also providing needed amenities, including a new pavilion to host events such as music festivals and movie nights.

In part, the jury awarded first place to KUTONOTUK because of their strategy, which recognized that “The Beach is the Star” and chose to keep their design relatively simple. This less commercial approach also resonated with many of the people who provided public input, including one respondent who commented, “It keeps the beach the focus. Myrtle Beach and Virginia Beach are NOT what we want here. KUTONOTUK nailed it!”

Matthew Jull commented on their interest in this competition. “What initially attracted us to the competition was that it addressed what we think are some of the most important issues of our time. Within a town with such a rich history and in such a dynamic environment, how do we create new spaces for people to come together to strengthen the community while simultaneously meeting the challenges of the future? The fact that this key question was being asked through a public process was a major inspiration.”

Leena Cho continued, “For us, the new boardwalk needed to act both as a central gathering space for the town and an extension to private patios and gardens of many adjacent homes and businesses. Instead of privileging one over the other, our design combined the two with a two-level boardwalk that is unique to the site, providing flexible use and connection to the urban coastal landscape.”

Subject to the Town Council’s approval of a design agreement, KUTONOTUK will start to refine their design this summer. Over 1,000 people responded to a survey about the boardwalk designs, including hundreds who provided detailed comments. These public comments, as well as input from the Town Council and homeowners along the boardwalk, will be considered as the design evolves. “We look forward to working with the community, the Jury, and the Town Council in the next stages of this incredibly exciting public space project,” stated Matthew Jull.

The town is actively seeking grant funding to help pay for the boardwalk improvements and hopes to begin constructing the first phase of the new boardwalk this winter.

**PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DESIGN IS NOT FINAL. KUTONOTUK WILL BE VISITING ATLANTIC BEACH THIS SUMMER TO COLLECT INPUT DIRECTLY FROM OUR CITIZENS AND WILL REFINE THE DESIGN BASED ON THIS PUBLIC INPUT.**

View the full design summary by clicking HERE.
View the full KUTONOTUK Boardwalk Presentation by clicking HERE. 
Congratulations to Matthew, Leena and the project team!