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Philosophy
Gail
Y. B. Lash, Ph.D.
Nevin
Lash, ASLA
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• Concept Planning
• Master Planning
• Zoological Design
• Visitor Services
• Community Ecotourism
• Peace Education
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Project
Brief
Concept Plan:
Mississippi Plaza
at the
National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, Dubuque, Iowa
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Front Elevation from Parking lot
INTRODUCTION
Ursa International was asked to come to the National Mississippi River
Museum and Aquarium one week in July to see if we can come up with a
concept for their campus expansion. The Museum was given a new
building, 300' away from it's original location on the Ice Harbor on
the Mississippi, and was just beginning the construction phase of the
renovation from Casino to "Great Rivers Center". The space
between is currently owned by the City of Dubuque and provides access
to the new marina. Jerry Enzler and his board and staff were
undecided on how to proceed and needed some focused attention on this
outdoor space.
Some of the issues were, 1) there was a perception that because the two
exhibit buildings were so far apart, visitors might be inclined to go
to one and not the other - and in winter or bad weather the large plaza
would be an impediment. A long covered walkway or tram or boat
ride were some suggestions, 2) the museum did not own the 100' x 300'
waterfront property so this new use would have to be leased to the
museum, but offered to the public as well, 3) the City was
investigating the potential of expanding the Marina to accommodate a
more formal marina for transient boaters and JJR was completing a study
to access the marina through this plaza space and the Museum Board was
not too excited about the prospects of dividing their campus.
After a day of information gathering, interviews and site investigation
including enjoying the existing Museums offering, I sat down with the
Jerry and his executive staff and we brainstormed a new vision for this
space. It became clear that Zoos in the area never had problems
moving people from exhibit to exhibit outdoors as long as there were
places to get out of the weather along the way. And the Museum had a
collection of classic boats that could not be displayed and a Boat Shed
would be a welcome addition that could be used for demonstrations,
workshops and as a refuge during a rain or snow event.
Also, it would be nice to have a water feature that would simulate a
river environment, where native fish can be exhibited and fed, and
there could be a children's fun experience to ride a raft like
Huckleberry Finn on the water feature. The New Museum building is
using geo-thermal energy to heat and cool the the building and they
would be discharging 600 gallons a minute into the river - maybe we can
use that water to charge our water feature. Other features that were
advanced was a Carousel house for a future carousel, but can be used as
an event space temporarily, a children's interactive water play area
with the museum's 30' long walk-through Catfish, and also garden space
for native plant material, museum river artifacts and a place to stroll
along the waterfront and view the activity of the working harbor.
The new museum building was already planning on utilizing the plaza
space to provide outdoor seating for their cafe. After some
discussion, and thinking about the boaters, riverwalkers and casino and
hotel visitors, we thought that this location could be used for
concerts, festivals, craft fairs and outdoor movies in the evenings and
open the plaza to the public.
The museum expansion plan was met with great excitement and
encouragement by the City officials and Museum Board and staff and
discussions are underway to lease the plaza space to the Museum and
allow them to create an enclosed campus. The Marina study saw the
wisdom of moving the access to the docks from it's own secure access
point and not through the Plaza. We submitted a grant application to
the State of Iowa 'Vision' program and now hope to receive enough money
to turn this concept into reality.
Section
from the parking to the Marina
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Children's Vortex
water play garden
River Aquarium for
native fish and feeding areas
The Boat Shed with
Classic Boat collection
The
Raft ride with the Carousel House in background
Outdoor
dining terrace with shade sails
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Credits
- National Mississippi River Museum
and Aquarium
- Mississippi
Plaza was designed
by Ursa
International
- Special
thanks to:
- McCullough
Creative, Inc. for the perspective renderings
- and
the staff at
- National
Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium
- Jerry
Enzler, Director
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Project
Data
Design began:
July
2009
target budget:
$3+ million
client:
National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium
client
contact:
Jerry Enzler
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