James Street Plaza Streetscape and Reconstruction

The James Street project involved the design of a new public space and the reconstruction of one block of roadway through the central business district of De Pere. The project goals were to create a special place that could be used by visitors and downtown employees; improve the quality of the pedestrian amenities; provide improved pedestrian and vehicular circulation; and reconstruct the public utilities, roadway, and sidewalk.

The site of a memorable fountain that was past repair, the project involved stakeholder and public engagement to plan for the future use and goals of this space. The direction for the design was to create a space for use by individuals and small groups, for things like a lunch break, cup of coffee, or small musical performance.

The existing mature honey locust trees created beautiful, dappled shade and the intent was to retain the trees and provide seating against the backdrop of the historic landmark Union Hotel. A more activated space at the east end of the site is connected by an allée of trees in grates and flexible seating. The east-end plaza contains a custom water wall-style fountain at one end and a custom kinetic wind wall sculpture at the other, both with coordinated color-changing LED lights.

A decorative sidewalk with picture-framed joints and special lighting was also designed and installed, along with upgraded signage, a refreshed pedestrian crossing, and newly improved access and capacity parking spaces. Traffic circulation was also enhanced by transitioning to a one-way street.

Additionally, the project involved the demolition of structure foundations encroaching on the street and the relay of roughly 250 feet of pipe to replace a failing sanitary sewer infrastructure.