Mississippi River Greenway Construction Milestone
Construction on the Mississippi River Greenway Phase 1 project recently hit a milestone with the setting of the pedestrian bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad in Jefferson Barracks Park. The 12-foot wide ADA accessible trail accommodates bicycle and pedestrian traffic. It will open in 2012, offering dramatic views of the Mississippi River, river woodlands and historic sites in Jefferson Barracks Park. The 1.5-mile greenway/trail project extends from the confluence of River des Peres with the Mississippi River to the St. Louis County Visitor Center and existing loop trail in Jefferson Barracks Park.
Planning Design Studio's New Principal
Planning Design Studio is pleased to announce that Scott V. Emmelkamp, PLA, ASLA has recently joined the firm as a Principal. Scott brings over 24 years of landscape architecture experience to the firm. His professional resume includes master planning, urban design, sustainable design, construction documents for projects throughout the nation and numerous projects overseas. He is active in several professional organizations and president-elect of the Fay Jones School of Architecture Professional Advisory Board. We are happy to have him join us. We look forward to his bright future with the firm.
Missouri Botanical Garden - Shaw Streetscape Improvements
The Missouri Botanical Garden (MBG) and the City of St. Louis are reviewing concepts developed by Planning Design Studio for Shaw Streetscape Improvements between Vandeventer and Tower Grove Avenue. In addition to improving the pedestrian access from the garden’s overflow parking (located two blocks west of MBG), these improvements will also provide a stronger visual sense of entry to MGB and preserve the neighborhood character. The project is reviewing options for sustainable design elements including permeable pavements, LED and/or solar lighting, raingardens and recycled materials. Following review by MBG, the City and neighborhood, Planning Design Studio in association with EDSI will complete final design of these improvements, with construction scheduled for the fall of 2012.
Planning Design Studio's New Employee
Last week Planning Design Studio brought in Scot Talbert as the newest employee to the firm. Scot is from Gaithersburg, Maryland and recently completed his post-baccalaureate MLA degree from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. Planning Design Studio is excited to welcome another member to its staff, and to the St. Louis Landscape Architecture community at large. Good luck, Scot!
Kirkwood Developing a New Park: Avery Drive Park
Kirkwood Parks and Recreation and the Kirkwood Park Board hosted a public review and comments session on a conceptual plan completed by Planning Design Studio (PDS) for the new City park property at 221-225 Avery Drive. The review session at the North Kirkwood Middle School was attended by approximately 25 citizens from the surrounding community. After a presentation by the design team from Planning Design Studio at the beginning of the session, those in attendance provided feedback on the plan to PDS and Park Board members. That feedback will be considered as final plans are created for the park. This new park was originally recommended in the 2005 Kirkwood Parks and Recreation Master Plan prepared by Planning Design Studio staff.
Robbie Walters Passes Registration Exam
Planning Design Studio is pleased to announce that Robbie Walters has successfully passed the Landscape Architect Registration Exam or L.A.R.E. The exam consists of five sections that tests applicants’ knowledge on project and construction administration; inventory, analysis and program development; site design; design and construction documentation; grading, drainage and stormwater management. Robbie is in the process of registering with the Missouri Division of Professional Registration which will grant him the authority to practice landscape architecture in the State of Missouri. Mr. Walters has been with Planning Design Studio since 2006 and is a key member of our landscape architecture staff. He is currently working on a 2.5-acre interpretive landscape master plan for the Lewis and Clark Confluence Tower in Hartford, Illinois and Phase 3 of the River Des Peres Greenway in St. Louis, Missouri.
PDS Partners with Vianney High School for Architecture Education
Each semester, the St. John Vianney High School Architectural Drawing class prepares a final project based on a real-world design project and this Spring semester, Planning Design Studio was proud to provide one of its own projects for architectural education.
Planning Design Studio’s own Geoffrey Van de Riet (a 2004 Vianney graduate) presented the final project, a 30-acre sports recreation complex, and outdoor aquatic complex, to the class in late March to kick-off the four week project. To conclude the four-week project, Mr. Van de Riet participated, along with two other Vianney architectural alumni, to critique and judge the 40th Edition of the Vianney High School Architecture Night. The Architecture Night is a celebration of the students’ hard work and an opportunity for each class team to present and defend their design solution before a panel of alumni judges. Each of the three teams presented a unique and different design concept solution with one team selected for their winning design approach, detail and thorough presentation. Each student commented on how thrilling and fun it was to have worked on this unique project.
Alton, Illinois Receives an Outstanding Planning Award
The St. Louis Metropolitan Section of the Missouri Chapter of the American Planning Association has selected the City of Alton to receive an Outstanding Planning Award for Implementation for The Alton, IL Marina/Riverfront District Master Plan.
In 1991, the Alton riverfront consisted of an outdated lock and dam, an aging two-lane highway bridge, an abandoned railroad bridge, a scrap yard, a lumberyard and railroad tracks and one city park amongst the heavily industrialized area. Thanks to some key infrastructure changes, and the vision and creativity of the Marina/Riverfront District Master Plan, today a casino, a much improved and larger park, a riverfront promenade, a several thousand seat outdoor amphitheater, picnic shelters, an iconic bridge over the Mississippi River and a brand new pedestrian bridge connecting the riverfront to the city have been implemented according to the original plan. Over the past two decades the successful use of public participation, inter-governmental partnerships, public and private investments, and sound planning principles have allowed residents of Alton to reconnect with their riverfront.
