Rethinking Infrastructure to Reclaim the Public Realm

Last month, Civitas Principal Scott Jordan was a featured speaker at AIA Arkansas’ 2024 State Convention in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he shared ways to rethink infrastructure and consider adaptative approaches to reclaim the public realm.

Infrastructure has been a hot topic in recent years, since the U.S. government enacted the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and committed to invest $550 billion between 2022 and 2026 on projects such as roads, bridges, mass transit, water infrastructure and broadband. All of this resides within the public realm—spaces that are intended to be accessible to everyone—and includes parks, plazas, streets and sidewalks. Local, state and federal agencies have been increasingly willing to fund civic infrastructure because of the additional private investment that such projects can attract. And this is where design comes in, creating an opportunity to rethink the definition of infrastructure and to position placemaking and public space design at the forefront of the most transformative projects.

By improving transportation networks, public spaces, and civic amenities, these initiatives often serve as catalysts for private sector investment, leading to revitalized neighborhoods and increased economic activity. Well-designed public spaces—such as parks, plazas, and pedestrian corridors—not only improve aesthetic and functional qualities but also attract businesses, tourism, and residential development. Here are some examples:

We have worked closely with the Port of San Diego for decades to shape its long term strategy for improvements to its busy, working waterfront. San Diego Bay is active with cruise ships, tour boats, water taxis, commercial fishing, two popular museums, as well as the San Diego International Airport, so the port is a primary point of entry to San Diego for many. In a typical year, cruise ships can bring 250,000 passengers to the city, often 10,000 people at a time; and the airport has an annual passenger volume of close to 20 million. For the North Embarcadero project, therefore, the pedestrian experience would become a leading design driver, balancing aesthetics with circulation and comfort to draw people in and keep them coming back—and it worked. Together with the City of San Diego, the Port has transformed the area over the years into the beautiful and popular destination it is today. Visitors now enjoy an expanded bayside promenade, parks, and plazas; restaurants and attractions, bay cruises, hotels; and more.

The long shoreline between the City of Wayzata and Lake Minnetonka has been cherished as one of Minnesota’s most important natural resources, yet it has suffered from years of fractured connections, neglect and misuse. By restoring a natural connection to the lake—rebuilding natural habitats as well as boardwalks and docks, piers and plazas—this multi-phase, multi-year project celebrates a small city’s strong culture and energizes its downtown district. When the Lakewalk opened, a former resident of Wayzata was so moved that he wrote to the Minnesota Star Tribune: “We were in Wayzata Friday evening in search of ice cream, hoping to gaze at the water. Hadn’t been for a couple years and were amazed at the transformation of the waterfront. The added seating, the long boardwalk running all the way to the boatworks, the splash plaza—and the people; I had never seen it this busy. Wonderful.”

Moving inland, as Northern Colorado’s population has grown, so has congestion along Interstate 25. So, the Colorado Department of Transportation has been investing in improved multimodal infrastructure including the I-25 North Express Lanes project, to support growth, ease congestion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In Loveland, a new mobility hub features a bus loading area that operates within the median of I-25, accessed by a pedestrian underpass that connects with a new 200-car parking lot. We worked closely with CDOT to consider the experience of the users who would be walking through the 300-foot underpass tunnel, in addition to the walk from the parking lot to the tunnel entry. Concrete culverts provided the most efficient and cost-effective solution for the tunnel construction, yet would result in an uncomfortable pedestrian experience if left in their raw, original state. Instead, translucent canopies let in natural light, and colorful ceramic steel wall panels and backlit translucent panels in multiple changing color patterns transform the conventional concrete culverts into a high quality transit facility with durable materials, functional design, an infusion of art, and well designed lighting and signage. The mobility hub draws people in and promotes usage of mass transit, and ultimately aligns with long-term transit-oriented development plans for an adjacent innovation district that’s envisioned as a new urban center for the region.

Each of these projects, a commercial port, an industrial lakefront, and a bus terminal, could have been delivered to the public as functional and utilitarian spaces. But with the consideration for placemaking and public space design, the projects are transformative. The investments in infrastructure and the public realm elevate the overall urban experience, making cities more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable. The integration of green infrastructure, smart technologies, and adaptive reuse strategies in urban planning further contributes to the long-term resilience and livability of urban areas, while addressing environmental and social challenges. Ultimately, infrastructure and public realm projects can foster a long-term investment, improving quality of life for residents and visitors alike.