Sasaki Wins Water Works Parkitecture Competition

Sasaki Wins Water Works Parkitecture Competition
The Parkitecture competition, held by Des Moines Water Works working in partnership with Iowa State University Department of Landscape Architecture, is aptly named for its emphasis on the fundamental role landscape architecture and design play in re-envisioning Water Works Park. The international design competition entailed the creation of a conceptual plan for Water Works Park to form dynamic relationships between the river, the watershed, and the community.


Sasaki Wins Water Works Parkitecture Competition
A panel of judges representing the design industry, Des Moines Water Works and the Greater Des Moines community, reviewed 44 proposals and selected 5 finalists for further review and public comment. The winning team of Sasaki Associates, RDG Planning & Design and AES was confirmed on January 24, 2012 by the Board of Water Works Trustees of the City of Des Moines, Iowa.

The competition sought proposals to integrate the ecological and social function of a park and river into a unified landscape, to inspire the community and to generate discussion about watershed issues and best practices, and offer innovative design solutions to address ecological and recreational challenges specific to Water Works Park.

Sasaki Wins Water Works Parkitecture Competition
The 1,500 acre park is bisected by the Raccoon River and a 3-mile-long infiltration gallery, which is a major source of drinking water for Des Moines. The overall vision of Sasaki’s winning plan was to shape, using the natural boundary of the River, two distinct—yet complementary—sections of the Water Works Park: the wild and the engineered. The wild offers immersion into the park’s magnificent natural setting through activities like horseback riding, hiking, and exploration. The engineered is the active heart of the park and provides more structured outdoor activities and event spaces. The centerpiece of the ‘engineered landscape’ is a recreational watercourse, experienced on standing paddleboards, that is linked to interpretive opportunities regarding the role of the site in harvesting and cleaning drinking water. The engineered landscape also connects to city streets, integrating the park with the urban fabric of Des Moines. Through a series of engaging experiences, the plan offers the potential to realize Water Works Park’s mission—to transform the way society thinks and understands the role of water in the region.

Throughout the design process, the design team interviewed citizens, community leaders, focus groups, and stakeholders, and will continue engaging the public throughout the master plan and implementation process of the park.

Sasaki Associates collaborated with Des Moines-based RDG Planning & Design and Minneapolis-based Applied Ecological Services on the competition entry and will continue to do so through implementation. Collectively, the team proffers progressive design strategy, creative vision, acute regional understanding, and technical prowess.

IMAGE CREDIT: Sasaki Associates

About Damian Holmes 3253 Articles
Damian Holmes is the Founder and Editor of World Landscape Architecture (WLA). He is a registered landscape architect (AILA) working in international design practice in Australia. Damian founded WLA in 2007 to provide a website for landscape architects written by landscape architects. Connect on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/damianholmes/