Ames officials want a new city landmark – and they’re paying $10,000 to get it.

Officials have launched an international contest to redesign the Ames Power Plant, 200 E. 5th St., in order to make it more aesthetically pleasing and recognizable outside Ames.

They’re calling the contest the Landmark Challenge.

Bob Kindred, assistant city manager, said city staff and citizens initiated the project last year.

“Over the last ten years, there have been discussions about creating visual entryways to the community to create a sense of arrival,” Kindred said. “This project is being designed and advertised to do that.”

The city is advertising through design journals, magazines and Web sites. ISU design students have also been invited to compete.

The deadline for submission is Dec. 2.

“We’re receiving inquiries but it’s still very early to expect entries to be submitted,” Kindred said. “We do expect to receive many local entries as well as from across the nation and the world.”

The city will give a $1,000 prize to as many as five finalists. The person who creates the new look for the power plant will receive $10,000.

Finalists’ proposals will be brought before the public for input to assist the City Council in selecting the finalists.

A panel of representatives from Electric Services, the City Manager’s Office, residents at-large and the Public Art Commission will select the best design plans based on originality and creativity, feasibility, cost implement and ongoing maintenance as well as the focus on all four sides of the plant and ability to be implemented in phases.

The final concepts will also face a technical advisory team of an architect, a structural engineer and a landscape architect.

The winning concept will be selected by July 1, 2003.

Ames Mayor Ted Tedesco said the idea is good and the contest will help the power plant, which is essential to the community.

“Hopefully we can do things to make the power plant more compatible and beautiful to the downtown area,” Tedesco said. “I hope we have some exciting ideas.”

The city has authorized $25,000 from the electric services fund for advertising, prizes and trips to the city for finalists.

Ames City Council member Herman Quirmbach, 4th Ward, said the contest is a good use of the city’s money.

“This is appropriate use of funds to promote utilities in Ames and improve our gateways into the community,” said Quirmbach, associate professor of economics.