Rochester Area Plan

Riverfront Plan

Client

  • City of Rochester
  • Destination Medical Center (DMC)

Team

The Challenge

Rochester, Minnesota is world-renown as a place of healing. The Mayo Clinic, as the state’s largest employer, attracts visitors from around the globe. However, the downtown waterfront leaves much to be desired. A channelized river blocks views and acres of parking inhibit connections to the water’s edge.

OUR RESPONSE

The plan balances mixed-use development with an expansion of the trail network. Terraced gardens and gentle sloping ramps enhance accessibility and integrate existing historic structures.

The Results

The sites form a “campus” of five acres. Additional due diligence is reducing unknowns (environmental, structural and economic) in advance of an RFP for development.

Adaptive reuse concept sketch

Sunken botanical garden (public)