A new Peace Tower concept has been approved by a special committee at the International Peace Garden, south of Boissevain.

GPP Architecture firm’s Tower Idea entry, entitled INTERWOVEN, was chosen as winning submission out of a field of six entries in the International Peace Garden Tower Ideas Competition. The Ideas Competition is the start of a process put in place by the IPG Board as it begins considering the replacement of its Peace Tower, which is coming down this winter.

“INTERWOVEN most closely reflected the vision and guiding principles set out by the International Peace Garden Board of Directors,” said Charlie Thomsen, IPG Board President. “After a rigorous review of the six Ideas submissions, the seven member Ideas Competition jury felt the submission by GPP best met competition criteria.”

The jury included architects and landscape architects from both North Dakota and Manitoba, as well as IPG Board members from both sides of the border. The jury felt the INTERWOVEN Idea was creatively conceived, inspirational, and had the greatest potential, among the entries, to provide a fitting new icon for the garden.

“The International Peace Garden invited more than two dozen firms to enter the Ideas Competition,” said Thomsen, “The six entries we received came from both the United States and from Canada. The jury was impressed with the quality and vision articulated by all submissions.”

“None of the jury members knew who had submitted an entry to the competition until winner and runners up had been selected,” said Thomsen. “The selection process was coordinated by our CEO, who had assigned each of the six entries a number. Everyone on the jury panel was surprised to learn who our number one choice turned out to be.”

“We are pleased with the level of interest the Ideas Competition generated within the architectural and landscape architecture communities, on both sides of the border” said Thomsen.

The International Peace Garden will display all entries at its Interpretive Centre at the Garden and welcomes any feedback from our visitors.