In the
ninth iteration of the Xtreme LA challenge, participants are invited to propose
ideas and solutions surrounding the Bison Bridge project, the prospective
transformation of the I-80 bridge between LeClaire, Iowa and Rapids City,
Illinois into a wildlife crossing, outdoor recreation destination, and
potential new national park. Their proposals will involve the creative
repurposing of existing infrastructure to enhance people's health and
wellbeing, offer more equitable access to nature, restore ecological services,
and spur local economic development.
“We’re
proud to work together with the LAF and the Bison Bridge Foundation in meeting
and engaging with these future design leaders on the Bison Bridge project,”
says Landscape Forms Chief Innovation Officer, Kirt Martin. "It’s such an
important, exciting, and interesting design challenge, and I look forward to a
truly inspiring and memorable experience.”
From
October 11 through October 13, two teams made up of equal numbers of
best-in-class young design professionals from all over the country, and
landscape architecture students from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
and Iowa State University, will work under the guidance of prominent landscape
architects to envision creative landscape and infrastructure solutions for
Bison Bridge, one of the country’s most innovative and challenging current
landscape architecture projects.
This
professional development program is intended to provide exposure and experience
that will benefit both participants and the companies at which they work. Young
professionals will be mentored by distinguished landscape architects and will,
in turn, have the opportunity to mentor promising students preparing to enter
the profession. By contributing passion, sharing expertise, and inspiring innovative
solutions, participants will not only provide meaningful value to the region’s
community and ecosystems, but they will also help secure a more sustainable and
more equitable future for infrastructure policy on the whole.
At the
event’s culmination on October 13, teams will make final presentations before
an audience of local officials and interested citizens at The Figge Art
Museum’s John Deere Auditorium in Davenport, Iowa.
Live Stream the Xtreme LA Presentations
Watch the live stream of the 2022 Xtreme LA Charrette Presentations on Thursday, Oct. 13 at noon ET (11 a.m. CT).
About
Landscape Forms
Landscape
Forms is the industry leader in integrated
collections of high-design site furniture, structures, and advanced LED
lighting. Since its founding in 1969 Landscape Forms has earned a reputation
for excellent design, high quality products and exceptional service. The
company is headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and includes Kornegay Design,
located in Phoenix, Arizona, and Loll Designs, in Duluth, Minnesota, in its
family of brands. It has sales
representatives throughout North America, South America, the United Kingdom,
Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Asia. Landscape Forms collaborates with
renowned industrial designers and consultancies, landscape architects, and
architects to design and develop integrated collections of products that
address emerging needs and help create a sense of place. Additionally, the
company has formed global marketing partnerships with select companies that
share its commitment to design. Landscape Forms has an installed base of
products around the world. Clients include municipalities, transit centers,
corporate, college and health care campuses; and familiar brand leaders such as
Harvard University, Linked In, New York Central Park Conservancy, Bryant Park,
Google, Coca Cola, Oculus, U.S. Tennis Association (USTA), Nike, National
Museum of African American History (Washington, D.C.), Barclays Center, Adidas,
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Microsoft, and Uber. We’ve been named one
of the Best Workplaces in Manufacturing & Production for 2020, 2021 and
2022 by Fortune magazine, Michigan Manufacturer of the Year by the Michigan
Manufacturers Association, and by 269 Magazine as one of Southwest Michigan’s
Wonderful Workplaces.
About the
Landscape Architecture Foundation
For more
than 50 years, LAF has been identifying priorities and strengthening the
discipline to meet weighty environmental, social, and economic challenges. They
believe in the power of design to create a healthier, more equitable, and
sustainable world. With $180,000 available annually, LAF is a leading source of
scholarships for landscape architecture students. These awards recognize
leadership, reward superior student performance, support access and diversity,
and assist students with unmet financial need.
About the
Bison Bridge Foundation
Inspired
by repurposed infrastructure projects and wildlife bridges around the country,
the Bison Bridge Foundation was formed in 2020 in response to the Illinois
Department of Transportation's announcement that they would replace the current
Interstate 80 bridge over the Mississippi River. The Bison Bridge Foundation
has proposed a plan for retaining the I-80 bridge and repurposing it as the
Bison Bridge. The Mississippi River crossing would be transformed into a
pedestrian parkway on the eastbound lanes and a crossing for wildlife,
including a small herd of American bison, on the westbound lanes. Led by Chad
Pregracke, the Founder and President of Living Lands & Waters, the team
spans the nonprofit, transportation, tourism, economic development, wildlife
management and conservation sectors. Each team member brings a rich knowledge
of their industry to the project, providing expert guidance and dedication to
bringing the Bison Bridge to life. To date, the Bison Bridge project has
received 40,000 signatures of support, dozens of endorsements from universities
to media to elected officials, and tremendous grassroots momentum during the
Department of Transportation planning phase and NEPA process.