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.