CONCEPT
some random debris just sitting there ,” Adams described . “ It wasn ’ t a very appealing , nice place , but it was on the waterfront and accessible via this new street .”
Taking concept to design
With a site identified , the next step was to come up with a design . Working with some of HDI ’ s partners , along with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee ’ s School of Architecture and Urban Planning and Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers , the group decided to hold a public design competition and let the community weigh in on what they wanted to see in the space .
This led to HDI ’ s “ Take Me to the River ” design competition in 2016 , in which five teams submitted concept plans and their visions for what the space could be . HDI then provided the teams with a $ 1,000 honorarium to participate in a charrette and submit their concepts . This included engaging with the public through an ice cream social that brought out 50 community members and a community design workshop at a local coffee shop that drew another 40 to 50 .
From there , the five teams refined their designs and submitted final proposals that were posted online for the community to choose from ; about 1,300 people participated in the online voting . A six-member selection committee ( with varied connections to the project site ) discussed the options and voted as well , with the seventh vote determined by the online community vote .
“ It was competitive because all the teams came up with really very impressive , very cool designs – and very unique designs ,” Adams said . “ The selection committee met for two hours once and for another hour again . In the end , the design chosen was the one by Ayres and Quorum Architects .” www . AyresAssociates . com 21