Description
Mandan is a city on the northern plains challenged by the multi-generational impact of a massive underground pollution plume from a railyard diesel leak that turned its downtown into a brownfield. After two decades of remediation and significant public investment in recreational and cultural facilities, Mandan is seeking to anchor downtown by positioning a Civic Center as a visible commitment to the area.
VMWP developed a public realm design framework to redesign several downtown streets to create public space linkages between Morton County and City of Mandan facilities and existing parks. The plan provides conversion of 2nd Ave NW outside City Hall into a Memorial Plaza, the redesign of 3rd Ave NW into a Green Connector with extensive sidewalk widths, a tree boulevard and incremental improvements to create Living Alleys parallel to Main Street.
In addition, VMWP studied development alternatives for new and renovated facilities for Mandan City Hall and provided conceptual space planning for a total renovation and reconstruction of the existing 1937 War Memorial/City Hall Building to better use its 25,250 square foot floor area for the current needs of the city administration.
Design Features
- Street Redesign to increase pedestrian amenities and provide shading
- Connections to parks and civic amenities
- Incremental placemaking strategies
- Recommendations for adaptive reuse of historic and culturally important building
Urban Design for Contaminated Brownfields
- Reduction of urban heat island through urban greening
- Reversal of previous recommendations for replacement with a new construction city administration campus on an exurban greenfield site with recommendation for extensive renovations to take advantage of the embodied carbon in the existing structure
PROJECT INFORMATION
- Client: ICF International
- Site Area: 10 Blocks / 33 Acres
- Completion: 2023
Revitalizing Contaminated Brownfield Properties
VMWP’s urban design studio specializes in transforming brownfields and hazardous sites into valuable assets for communities nationwide. We partner with organizations like ICF International, the US EPA, local governments, and private developers to revitalize contaminated properties. Our expert team conducts comprehensive assessments to unveil a property’s potential for expansion, redevelopment, or reuse, ultimately driving sustainable growth. We actively participate in “SMART Growth Charrettes,” providing urban design services that promote resilient and sustainable development across the country as part of technical assistance programs led by the EPA.