Designers invited to shape Road Town landmark

The government has launched a national design competition to create a signature monument for the heart of Road Town.

Announced on Feb. 24, the Roundabout National Monument Design Competition is being spearheaded by the Road Town Partnership Committee and the Recovery and Development Agency as part of the broader Road Town Development Project.

The RDA described the contest as a national call for “innovative, culturally reflective and enduring monument concepts” for one of the Virgin Islands’ most prominent public spaces.

The winning design will become a permanent feature of the Road Town roundabout, visible from every angle and celebrating VI history, culture and identity, according to the RDA.

To ensure safety, proposed monuments must be freestanding and allow full 360-degree visibility around the roundabout, with only low shrubbery or ground cover permitted.

Culture and Tourism Junior Minister Luce Hodge-Smith, who co-chairs the RTP Committee, urged residents to participate.

“I am truly excited to invite those among us with creative talent to participate in this competition,” she said. “There are very attractive monetary prizes, but this is more than just a competition. It is an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy, as the monument you help to design will stand at this roundabout for generations to come.”

The prizes

Design sketches must include a short concept description outlining inspiration, symbolism and proposed materials. All entries must be original and created specifically for the competition.

The first-place winner will receive $3,000 and official recognition, along with the opportunity to collaborate with the RDA to refine the final design.

The second-place prize is $2,000, and third place will receive $1,000. Winners will also receive certificates and public recognition through RDA publications, media releases and exhibitions, according to the agency.

Submissions must be emailed to [email protected] by March 27. Incomplete entries or designs that block visibility or fail to comply with competition rules will be disqualified.