The design competition for the Tioga United Neighborhood Center was a pilot program for an annual design competition to engage regional colleges and universities in the process of sustainable design. As entrants in this “ideas competition” students were given an opportunity to advance the conceptual development of the Tioga Neighborhood Center , a “real project” destined to be part of a neighborhood gateway development centered on North 20th and Tioga Streets in North Philadelphia . Over 100 students from Drexel University , Philadelphia University , Community College of Philadelphia and Temple entered the competition.

The jury featured prominent professionals in architecture and associated professions. It was comprised of Bill Reed, AIA, Vice President of Integrative Design Consulting , Natural Logic, Inc. ; Paul Stoller, Director, Atelier Ten Environmental Designers, New York and London ; and Margie Ruddick, Principal in landscape architecture at Wallace Roberts and Todd, LLC, Philadelphia . Award levels were modeled on the LEED® ( Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system where Silver, Gold, and Platinum represent rising levels of achievement. The Jury, emphasizing that Platinum-level projects were almost out of reach even for trained professionals, made twin awards at both the Silver and Gold levels of achievement. Ms. Rivest's project was commended for the incisive re-imagining of the program under the aegis of a neighborhood “ Cultivation Center ”; Mr. Drummond's for its creative, imaginative, and controversial “fit” with the neighborhood context; and Mr. Weise's project for its professionalism and beauty. All 15 of the Temple students who entered the competition received the informal recognition of the organizers for the energy they devoted to rethinking the community center program as well as the evidence of their design skills.

The competition was engaged by students in the 4 th year studio curriculum as part of the 5-year professional degree program. Assistant Prof. Peter di Carlo, AIA, has over 10 years of experience in architecture and engineering before joining the Tyler Faculty full-time in 2000. Jeff Goldstein has been an Adjunct Professor in 2004-2005 and is a LEED-Certified Professional working with KieranTimberlake Associates, LLP, Philadelphia . The competition was sponsored by the Delaware Valley Green Building Council (DVGBC) in conjunction with the Community Design Collaborative of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).