Storefront Challenge: Reward refreshed facades

Has the store on your corner been spiffed up lately with new signage or lighting? Have you seen an old storefront carefully restored to its original shine and glory? The Commerce Department and the Community Design Collaborative want you to nominate outstanding storefront improvement projects for the Citywide Storefront Challenge awards. The Community Design Collaborative explains :

The Citywide Storefront Challenge is part of an ongoing partnership between the City of Philadelphia Commerce Department and the Community Design Collaborative to promote reinvestment in storefronts—the backbone of most neighborhood commercial corridors—and to show the connection between strong design and successful neighborhood business development.”

Nominees must be within the city limits and the improvements must have been completed since October 2010. Anyone can nominate projects by filling out this form by Friday, September 14. The winners – from full facelifts to small-scale projects – will be honored at an awards celebration at the Center for Architecture on Wednesday, October 10 fro 4-6pm as part of DesignPhiladelphia 2012.

To get your wheels turning, here are the award categories:

  • CREATIVE deSIGN: most unique projecting sign
  • UP AGAINST THE WALL: most unique flat wall sign
  • WINDOW DISPLAY: best window display (may be a temporary installation)
  • GREEN WITH ENVY: best example of sustainable design and construction
  • HONOR THE PAST: best historical restoration
  • NIGHTLIFE: best strategy for activating a building at night
  • PROTECTION to PERFECTION: most inventive security grate
  • CORRIDOR CATALYST: best motivator to other local businesses
  • BANG FOR THE BUCK: biggest impact for the lowest cost
  • EXTREME MAKEOVER: most transformative
  • BEST OVERALL: best complete package

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