Nederveld wins AIAGV Honor Award
At the annual AIA Grand Valley award ceremony held on April 14, 2007, Nederveld’s Brikyaat Neighborhood Development Plan won the 2007 Honor Award for Regional and Urban Design. This award, the first in this category for the AIAGV, recognizes distinguished achievements that involve the expanding role of the architect in urban design, city planning and community development.
The Brikyaat Development Plan, which was a collaboration between Nederveld, Lott3Metz and Past Perfect, represents a sixteen month design process based on public participation between the design team, neighbors, business owners, farmers market vendors and other stakeholders from the Midtown Neighborhood. During this process, two charrettes were conducted along with numerous feedback loops, which engaged the public in the entire design process and ultimately led to a master plan which meshed a strong and creative vision with the existing urban context.
Members of the Central Kentucky AIA composed the 2007 awards jury and included Dan Church, Tony Kleyer and Michael Koch. Their comments about the Brikyaat Neighborhood plan are as follows:
The Planning process was participatory, and the analytic approach comprehensive. The resultant Master Plan addresses very real, and common neighborhood revitalization issues with a set of thoughtful and realistic recommendations. The approach is not limited to merely infill and rehabilitation. The proposed “improvements” go beyond the obvious, to introduce important ideas that will improve the neighborhood “built fabric”, and reinforce a “sense of community”.
The strength of the plan is in the Urban Design framework that establishes opportunities for economic development and quality architectural design. The restructuring of the street network is a bold move that serves to create new focal points and settings for a desired mix of housing units. The planned residential types will reinforce the “urban streetscape” qualities while serving important social and cultural objectives. The plan for a revitalized Farmers Market improves the image, function and accessibility of this “community centerpiece” without disrupting Fulton Street continuity.
Each of the proposed development opportunities is appropriately scaled for implementation through a combination of Private and Community investments.
The final implementation of The Brikyaat Neighborhood Plan will occur when it gains formal approval and inclusion as an Area Specific Plan in the City of Grand Rapids Master Plan. This implementation has begun with an initial approval at the City Planning Commission and City Commission.
