Some projects demand architectural excellence. New civic projects, memorials, and high-profile buildings need to achieve the highest quality possible. Design competitions can guarantee high quality design. PDI's President has been involved in conducting national and international competitions for over twenty years. With his colleague, Jeffrey Ollswang, they have conducted some of the largest, most high-profile competitions in the United States, resulting in major award-winning projects. After 20 years of running competitions though Design Competition Services, Inc., Larry Witzling and Jeffrey Ollswang now offer these services through PDI.

There are many different competition formats, each with an appropriate application: competitions can be open and anonymous, or conducted by invitation only; competitions can be executed in two stages; or a hybrid methodology can be constructed based on the specific needs of a client and the resources that are available.

Open, Anonymous Competitions
The most common form of competition encourages a large number of competitors with many different ideas. A professional jury selects the winners anonymously to ensure the results are based on merit.

Two-Stage Competitions
This competition format adds a second stage to an anonymous competition. Finalists, selected in the first stage, elaborate and revise their designs in the second stage. While it is more costly, it guarantees a higher level of refinement and public input. PDI has recently conducted the largest open two-stage competition for the World Trade Center Memorial in New York City.

Invited Competitions
Invited competitions typically focus on highly complex building types. A few well-known competitors are selected, usually through a request-for-qualification. Here too the results are judged by a hand-picked jury.

Hybrid Competitions
PDI has pioneered several new forms of competitions, including joint open/invited competitions, dual competitions (multiple projects), and competitions for future sites.

Concept Competitions
Some clients are seeking concepts for which specific implementation plans cannot be developed. PDI has helped conduct these competitions in ways that often lead to the implementation of new ideas.