TILLMAN DESIGN
Architectural & Graphic Design
In the process of linking the two neighborhoods back together, large mixed-use and residential infill projects were proposed in order to bridge the two sides. These bridges were envisioned with public amenities and resources such as library branches and cafes, creating destinations that allowed the two populations to meet while enjoying scenic views. In addition, the former highway surface would be repurposed into a large natural amenity for the communities, including a series of large parks and playgrounds connected by various types of pedestrian paths. The greenery between paths and destinations would be a combination of urban farmland (to support the nutritional needs of the local population), tallgrass (which acts as a substantial carbon sink), and more typical grass.
Repurposing the highway into a swath of sustainable infrastructure would potentially draw developers and funding to an area that would greatly benefit from the attention. In order to help the new infill connections into the neighborhoods feel better integrated, particular attention was paid to the proportions of typical neighboring buildings and homes.
A highway overpass provides an exceptional platform for natural resource collection: tremendous amounts of space that is open to sunlight, wind and rainfall; structurally capable of supporting practically any load; strong connections into existing urban infrastructure and resources.
The northern end of the site houses a new school of the arts and dance, complementing KC’s new Performing Arts Center, with the repurposed highway pathways running beneath it and branching out to different connection points among the nearby neighborhoods. The southern end of the site repurposes an abandoned warehouse building into a large grocery store and urban market, providing a venue for the community to purchase fresh produce and learn proper farming techniques. The master plan also calls for a series of multifamily housing complexes to fill the gaps within the current framework of the two neighborhoods, helping to restore a healthy sense of density in the neighborhoods.
This project was included in a studio-wide design exhibition called UNDER.ON.GONE., which presented research on the interstate and its effects on the community, along with a series of projects that sought to solve the problems as well as prompt conversation on the issues at hand. The exhibition was honored with the AIA Central States Region Award for Excellence in Master Planning and Urban Design, recognizing the extents of the research as well as the creativity of the design solutions.
As part of the project I created a series of research infographics studying the potential sustainable outcomes and yields of the site, as well as statistics to put these figures into context.
