DG2 teamed with Reitz & Jens Engineers to complete the 39 North Greenway Master Plan. The 39 North Greenway is a portion of the Centennial Greenway and is vital to its completion. The Centennial Greenway is one of the priorities of the regional greenway system administered by Great Rivers Greenway. Ultimately, the Centennial will connect St. Charles to Forest Park, the hub from which all greenways connect in the St. Louis region. 

The plan’s open space and alignment is a cohesive vision for the connectivity within 39 North that redefines the way people travel, gather, and interact. 

As part of the public engagement for both the master plan and greenway, residents, current employees and visitors to the district almost unanimously requested improved connectivity for people, bikes, and cars. The high priority projects that have been identified in the 39 North master plan all address the connectivity challenges.

Connectivity between the office, retail and commercial areas of the 39 North district is almost non-existent. Access by vehicle between areas is not intuitive and is inconvenient. In many instances, access is impossible on foot or by bicycle between major anchors such as the retail area to the west and the Danforth Center, Bayer, BRDG Park, and the Helix Center to the east. Access to regional assets including the Jewish Community Center, Warson and Stacy Parks, and residential neighborhoods in Creve Coeur and Olivette is also challenging.

The master plan measures and projects the future sustainability of the open space and greenway infrastructure once it is built. The goals of the open space plan are to create 11 miles of new walkable and bike-able greenway paths throughout the district, plant 13+ acres of tree canopy throughout the district, and create 1.5 million gross square feet of re-adapted office space.

Check out the full master plan HERE.

When is a stadium more than a stadium? The ownership group for St. Louis CITY FC, the new Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise in St. Louis, had a vision for creating a vibrant mixed-use stadium district in the city’s Downtown West neighborhood. DG2 teamed with architects HOK and Snow Kreilich to design this reality. 

With the home opener less than a month away the team is putting the finishing touches on the soccer complex.  CITY will be one of the few U.S.-based teams in all professional sports, and the only MLS club, to have its stadium, team headquarters, training and performance center, and practice fields in one centralized downtown location simultaneously activating the growth of the Downtown West district.

The stadium site and adjacent parking garage lie across the street from historic Union Station and at the end of the Gateway Mall, along The Brickline Greenway linking the stadium to the Gateway Arch and Mississippi River.

The stadium’s scale and form emerge from the surrounding urban context.   The 22,500-seat stadium is open and transparent, with views into the field from the neighborhood and views out to the city from the seating bowl. 

St. Louis CITY wants this mixed-use district to catalyze downtown activity 365 days a year. Anchored by a compact stadium that fits comfortably into its urban neighborhood, the district will include spaces for hosting year-round community events, concerts, celebrations, and a variety of outdoor activities.

The 31 acres site includes over 300 trees of 21 different species. The site was strategically designed to keep the stadium’s corners open, we worked with the team to set the elevation of the stadium be accessible at all four corners. The design creates flexible plazas that can host non-game day events ranging from festivals to wedding receptions, including the main 2.9 acre Lou Fusz Plaza . Street-level vendors will have the opportunity to establish stands that face out to the city from the Stadium and the Pitch 314 Garage.

 

Join our TEAM!  DG2 Design is seeking dynamic, motivated, detail-oriented, and personable Landscape Architects – with 1-2 years of experience and 7-10+ years of experience (part-time or full time) to join our team. This position will support and strengthen our existing capabilities in master planning and design projects including parks, greenways, public spaces, ecosystem restoration, campus design, and commercial site design. This is a unique opportunity for someone to manage and support projects and play a significant role in project delivery in the firm.

The selected candidates will assist our small, diverse team of landscape architects on all phases of projects from initial site investigations to public engagement and construction administration services.

DG2 offers flexibility for its employees in a variety of ways –customizable PTO for personal and family needs, flexible work opportunities, and resources for growth in the professional and design. We believe employees need quality time to unplug and recharge for their own well-being and satisfaction. Through our flexible PTO policy, we encourage team members to take the time off they need to recharge and be their best.

This is a unique opportunity for someone to manage and support projects and play a significant role in project delivery in the firm whether part-time or full-time. The selected candidate will assist our small, diverse team of landscape architects on all phases of projects from initial site investigations to public engagement and construction administration services.

Job Duties will include:

• Preparation of deliverables including base maps (utilizing Auto Cad and GIS), cost estimates, construction documents (plans and specifications) and reports.
• Hand and computer renderings (details, plans, cross-sections, perspective renderings)
• Project management, including public engagement and communication with clients and potential clients.
• Master planning through detailed design activities as a project manager.
• Field investigations (site analysis, soil sampling, etc.)
• Construction observation services.

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from an accredited University.
• Minimum 1 and 4 years of relevant professional experience (depending on which position you are applying for).
• Strong hand and computer graphic communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills (English).
• Flexible work style, with the ability to meet challenging deadlines and client needs for multiple project scales.
• Ability to work well on multi-disciplinary teams (internal and external).
• Proficient in AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, SketchUp, other various graphic rendering programs, GIS, and Office 365. Knowledge of Land F/X is preferred.
• Planting design knowledge and familiarity of regional planting materials is preferred.
• Licensed Landscape Architect in the state of Missouri (preferred for 7-10 year position).
• A valid US driver’s license is required.

 

Please forward your resume and portfolio in confidence to Kristy DeGuire at kdeguire@dg2design.com . Indicate “Landscape Architect– “Level of Experience”” _ Last Name in the subject line. Please limit your portfolio samples to 12 mb, or provide a link.

DG2 Design provides a stimulating work environment with opportunities for professional development, flexible schedule, and competitive compensation and benefits (health, dental, and vision insurance). DG2 Design is committed to providing an inclusive work environment for all.

We will confirm the receipt of your information, however, only those who qualify for an interview will be contacted. For more information please go to www.dg2design.com

 

 

What makes a public space more inviting? The landscapes and details. Read to see how design can change a space, especially one for large crowds.

By: Mimi Lo

DG2 has had the privilege to work with HOK on the Saint Louis Major League Soccer Stadium in St Louis since 2019. In order to be more familiar to stadium design, I researched case studies about the landscapes at the other stadiums in the U.S. I picked a few relatively new MLS stadiums which were built in the past 5 years.

Before I started doing these case studies, I did not know the locations around the stadiums could be so vibrant and mesmerizing. I have only been to very few stadiums and they usually only have sidewalks around them. No planting beds, no plaza, and no intricate pavement design. However, these stadium case studies opened my mind to what a landscape architect can bring to the table.

These stadium sites have larger open space around the stadium. The entrance plaza serves as an extension of the stadium architecture. The outdoor space offers the need for fans to enter the stadium while providing a space for people to stay and rest and the space becomes attractive and enjoyable for people on both game day and non-game day. The planting selection is also interesting part of design. Landscape architects try their best to pick up native plants to create microclimate around the stadium while choose the plant type that can create the atmosphere we want.

There are some interesting details as well. Although it is difficult and more costly to have planting on the side that lack of sunlight, landscape architects can still play around with the hardscape or outdoor furnishing. Using different pavers to create pattern, beautifully designed tree grates as well as picking out the furnishing that match the overall style, all create a cohesive designed space. I am impressed with all the design decisions you could do to make the result a better space, even though it is just a small detail.

After a couple of case studies, I have changed my impression to stadium landscape design. Now I know the outdoor space outside of stadium could be vibrant, playful and enjoyable. Designing for the landscape around the stadium is different from other plazas or open spaces, as it needs to provide the functions for crowded scenario on the game days and still fit the regular daily need in people’s life. It is an open space with flexibility, multi-function and opportunity. I have learned so much from the case studies and I am so excited that St. Louis will have a new stadium with thoughtfully designed landscape soon!