The Winning Design BUILT!!

[Cynthia Gentry]

The red, dancing ATLs hint at the big design about to be revealed

At long last, the winning design in the Playable10 International Design Competition has been built and was unveiled on November 1, 2011 at the huge National Parks and Recreation Association convention in Atlanta. 

 

The structure was built for us by Landscape Structures in Delano, Minneapolis and they did an extraordinary job.

The winning designer was Jeff Santos, a gaming and app designer from Canada. This was the first time he had ever created a play piece. The ATL play structure was designed for Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta. The one-of-a-kind design makes it perfect for such a unique site where kids, young tourists, college students and even office workers are expected to enjoy its many playful components.  

The phoenix color wheel was the idea of Paul Taylor, Director of Park Design for the City of Atlanta. It was designed by ATOP Director Cynthia Gentry. The phoenix is the symbol of the City of Atlanta as it, too, rose from the ashes.

 

Here the back side of the ATL shows the many play opportunities from a wheelchair accessible transfer station, a squiggly climber, multiple play panels, the treehouse-inspired climbing "T", the "L" slide and much more. The materials used to manufacture the structure are all recycled and made in the USA. On the front of the ATL wheelchairs can roll into the structure and access hand rings for play. 

 

A floor panel identifies the future home of the ATL. It was originally scheduled to be installed immediately after the conclusion of the NRPA convention, but Woodruff Park was filled will the tents of the "Occupy Wall Street" demonstrators. The ATL has been put in storage while the park is being restored and more funds are being raised for the landscaping that will provide a beautiful home for play.

 

Playable10 was a labor of love for us at ATOP. We are indebted to Central Atlanta Progress and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District for giving children a place to play at Woodruff Park. We would like to thank Bank of America for funding. Our partners at Georgia Tech's College of Architecture were a tremendous source of insight (and great design). We would also like to thank our wonderful team of jurors. But, most of all, we would like to thank Pat Faust, Steve King, Jane Jenewin, and the amazing designers at Landscape Structures for taking Jeff Santo's inspired design and making it a reality...one far greater than we ever dreamed possible.