CORE
VALUE
CORNER lients as partners ” is one of Ayres ’ core values . To Chris Silewski
“ Cand Binoy Panicker of Ayres , that means working as a team , collaborating , and interfacing with their clients often – all of which were exemplified on the Hopkins Park Master Plan project .
Making sure the City of St . Cloud was heavily involved throughout the process of crafting the plan made the final product a win-win for all parties involved , according to Silewski , a landscape architect on the project .
“ Often times we rely on the client to help us make sure we ’ re understanding the project and the community and the people ,” Silewski said . “ That ’ s one way we really lean on clients to get all of us to understand the place that we ’ re designing for and make sure we ’ re gearing things correctly .”
Panicker , project manager and an urban planner and designer at Ayres , said that client involvement – and public participation – were crucial to shaping the plan ’ s final form .
“ We had a great colleague and project manager on the client side , and the full support of the planning department , which was key to making sure that the process ran smoothly . Whatever we proposed in terms of the method of engagement , they were fully supportive of . It ’ s turned out to be a wonderful partnership .”
Binoy Panicker
Ayres Urban Planner and Designer
“ We had a great colleague and project manager on the client side , and the full support of the planning department , which was key to making sure that the process ran smoothly ,” Panicker said . “ Whatever we proposed in terms of the method of engagement , they were fully supportive of . It ’ s turned out to be a wonderful partnership .”
One of the key features of the end product was an interactive 3D rendering offering 360-degree panoramic views of the park – which the team brought to their third public meeting , along with a computer and screen for attendees to try out .
Those renderings proved to be quite well-received .
“ I ’ ve been doing master plans for over 15 years and , hands down , Ayres ’ 3D work and conceptual drawings are by far the best I ’ ve ever seen ,” said Stephanie Holtkamp , the City ’ s director of parks and recreation . “ Very impressive .”
– Jennifer Schmidt
12 | TRENDS Ingenuity , Integrity , and Intelligence .