A rival design team and a group of American expatriates in Shanghai are calling on the USA Pavilion organising committee to 'open the tent' to outside help to make sure the World Expo 2010 project goes ahead.
They warn the organisers need to take a more inclusive approach and consider cheaper alternatives to the US$60 million design.
The two groups made their comments in response to an article in this week's Sunday Morning Post, in which the organisers played down rumours of fund-raising difficulties and stated the country was '100 per cent in' for the expo.
Although the United States has pledged to build a pavilion at the six-month-long event, it is relying entirely on private donations. It has yet to sign a formal agreement with the Shanghai authorities, and reportedly has only until April 15 to do so.
Robert Jacobson wrote to the Post on behalf of BH&L Group Core Team, saying it had petitioned the US committee to 'open the process to a coalition of all the teams' and offered 'a new and better ... pavilion concept that costs less, does more and can be built in a scant six months'.
BH&L, which lost out in its bid to be the organising committee, has engaged Ralph Miller, an executive producer with experience in similar projects, to form a coalition.
'I am trying to bring all the involved parties around the table,' Mr Miller said. 'This really is the 11th hour.'
