POST-INDUSTRIAL URBAN LABORATORY

Fall 2015 LA 438: Design Workshop Studio 1, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA Team: Atyeh Ashtari, Grant Penfield Haugen, and Kristy Raasch.

Project Location: Danville, IL, USA

This project imagines Danville as a post-industrial urban laboratory, where nearby University of Illinois students can form multidisciplinary teams to gain practical experience and test ideas on how to help regenerate Rust Belt cities.

This project re-envisions Danville as a high quality of life city that attracts and retains both residents and businesses. Natural resources and manufacturing played a large role in the history of Danville, though as the glory industry once brought to the area has faded, relics of an exploited landscape are left behind. From a peak population of 42,500 people in 1970 to a slowly declining present population of 32,000 today, with higher vacancy and unemployment rates when compared to the rest of the state of Illinois, Danville serves as a microcosm to other declining, post-industrial Rust Belt cities.

Danville’s History Natural resources and manufacturing — **Danville’s History** *Natural resources and manufacturing*

Developing a Landscape that Brings People into the City A large public open space is created, accommodating various event like annual holiday markets and weekly farmers markets, as well as featuring benches and movable furniture to appeal to downtow… — **Developing a Landscape that Brings People into the City** A large public open space is created, accommodating various event like annual holiday markets and weekly farmers markets, as well as featuring benches and movable furniture to appeal to downtown office workers.

Slow Down Installing a median and traffic calming measures, such as pedestrian lights, help to lessen the strong barrier that Main Street currently has on downtown, cutting it off from the southside of the Street, as well as the river. — **Slow Down** Installing a median and traffic calming measures, such as pedestrian lights, help to lessen the strong barrier that Main Street currently has on downtown, cutting it off from the southside of the Street, as well as the river.

A New Riverfront Park Trails guide users down to a new riverfront park, where a multi-use trail begins that connects users to Kickapoo State Park via an abandoned rail line. A bridge is installed, built out of the existing dam structures to go to a … — **A New Riverfront Park** Trails guide users down to a new riverfront park, where a multi-use trail begins that connects users to Kickapoo State Park via an abandoned rail line. A bridge is installed, built out of the existing dam structures to go to a large deck area along the river, or cross into southern part, where dirt paths bring users through various natural typologies.

Restoring a Mine The southern part of the riverfront park features a restored mine that allows human beings to experience the marvelous mining heritage of the Danville region. — **Restoring a Mine** *The southern part of the riverfront park features a restored mine that allows human beings to experience the marvelous mining heritage of the Danville region.*

Elements of Play Guiding people from the city down to the river. — **Elements of Play** *Guiding people from the city down to the river.*