The need for this competition developed because of the absence of a town center in Channahon, Illinois. The Catholic Diocese of Joliet, the official sponsor of the competition and owner of the site, realized the need for a place of coming together in the community and hired Design Competition Services Incorporated to layout the rules for the competition. Consequently, the Diocese has donated a 100-acre parcel of land and organized an open village center design competition for the location of the village center.

Teams will submit site designs, sketches, and development plans that depict a series of public places interwoven with commercial, residential, and cultural activity, including a new church for St. Ann parish.

A five-member jury of professionals, a local government official and a representative of the Diocese of Joliet will choose the winner of the competition. The criteria used for judging is public image, accommodation of St. Ann Church, economic feasibility and development flexibility, technical feasibility, practicality and any other additional criteria that the jury sees fit.

Presentations of plans are directed by uniform guidelines that all competitors have to abide by. The presentation is required to be on two boards, each 30" wide by 40" long. First Place awards a $10,000, second $5,000, third $2,500, and honorable mention of $1,000 to be shared among the fourth place teams. The submission due date is April 9, 1998, and the jury will deliberate April 17-19.