Design contest begins at Crossroads of the World.

The Times Square Alliance (Tim Tompkins, president) has announced the second annual Design Times. This four-month program, inspired by Commerce Design Montreal, celebrates innovative quality design at the Crossroads of the World and encourages businesses and property owners to think about the aesthetic value of their spaces.

From 50 nominees, a jury of design professionals selected 26 of the area's most exciting buildings, commercial signs, retail interiors and public art works for this year's competition. Over the next four months, the public is invited to vote either on-line or by ballot to determine their three "2005 Top Choices" for Design Times Square 2005. Voting opens on September 15, 2005 and continues through New Year's Eve. Through a random drawing, all voters are eligible to win great Times Square prizes, including a night in one of the area's chic hotels, dinner at a top restaurant and tickets to a Broadway show. The website address is www.timessquarenyc.org/design.

The public is also invited to attend a series of public presentations, including a forum moderated by Metropolis Magazine editor Susan Szenasy, and to walking tours in the fall to get a first-hand look and inside information on the nominees.

"From a design point of view, Times Square is one of the most eclectic places in the country," says Tompkins.

"You can find classical design dating back over a century next to state-of-the-art signage. The amount of money being spent in this neighborhood for sign and retail presence is astounding. Plus, competition is fierce. For their investment, business owners expect something that is not only unique, but that makes a creative statement as well. Where better to make a statement than Times Square?"

The esteemed jury that selected the 26 finalists consisted of Fred Schwartz (Fred Schwartz Architects), Deirdre Scott (Design Police), Ken Smith (Ken Smith Landscape Architects) and Roger Whitehouse (Whitehouse and Company), and was chaired by Kitty Hawks (Kitty Hawks Inc.).

The "2004 Top Choices" included the McGraw-Hill through-block, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, along West 48th Street; the New Victory Theatre, New York's oldest active theatre; and the 1904-built tower at 1 Times Square that gave the neighborhood its name. Over 3,000 votes were received via e-mail, mail, and ballot box, and they came from 49 states and 27 countries.

Commerce Design Montreal is an annual contest founded in 1995 to encourage businesses to use the services of design professionals. The program sees commercial design as a lever for giving businesses a competitive edge and improving the local urban environment, key aspects that make Montreal an attractive place to live and visit. Commerce Design Montreal won the 2002 Outstanding Achievement Award from the International Downtown Association.

Times Square Alliance, founded in 1992, works to improve and promote Times Square. In addition to providing safety and sanitation services, the Alliance coordinates many major events in Times Square, including New Year's Eve, manages an Information Center and advocates on behalf of its constituents with respect to a host of public policy, planning and quality-of-life issues.