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Urban Design

Minnesota Vikings
 

The 21 acres of open space as part of the new Minnesota Vikings Stadium project is used to engage a citywide network of major open spaces and buildings to encourage new development which strengthens and ties together existing neighborhoods. The design focuses on distinctive edges of the stadium context. The stadium as an iconic object seen from the eastern highway approach to Minneapolis is treated differently from the plaza in front of the stadium entrance which is part of the dramatic visibility of the downtown skyline. The parks extending toward the city are designed to be attractive settings for new development, further enhanced by the transit park which becomes a central attraction to both the stadium and to future development.

Waterfront Headquarter Hotel and Convention Center Expansion
 

HKS was charged to accommodate a 50% expansion of an existing 600,000 square foot convention center, plan for a flagship hotel, and provide public access to the intercoastal waterway. To do so required overcoming the constraints of poor landside access, limited access to the water, and significant in-place service operations.

We reorganized the site to orient elements to the waterway. The expanded convention center (324,000 square feet) now faces directly on the water, the hotel becomes a visual landmark for the site from both land and water, visitor dropoff is handled with clarity and ease, a waterfront park is created, and a commercial harbor is established. The value of each asset has been increased through this re-orientation and connection to the water.

Atlanta Braves
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The Atlanta Braves baseball franchise chose to move out of Atlanta to Cobb

County. The land acquired presented an opportunity to rethink the standard

single-use venue surrounded by parking common for ballparks. HKS prepared

a plan for a mixed-use entertainment district which includes residential,

commercial, restaurant and retail uses linked to the stadium. The gentle

terrain and mature tree stands on site are carefully integrated into the vision.

The stadium is to be visible from the adjacent interstate. The mixed-use

development is organized along an active pedestrian spine which connects

the local arterial and mass transit to the entrance plaza of the stadium. The

open space is designed to provide a range of experiences in addition to

supporting stadium activities.

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