RISE
ULI challenges graduate students to design, program, budget, and propose a development in the site of their choosing in the unprecedented timeline of two weeks. Students are unaware of the location until the beginning of the competition. RISE is the result of Ball State University graduate students. The development aims to create affordable housing options in downtown Kansas City, new public spaces, connections with existing neighborhoods, and accessibility to government facilities.
Site Design
Students designed the site to create a unique space that was walkable and bikeable. With the proximity to multiple government buildings, spaces were created to allow for gatherings, festivals, and protests. The site was designed around a superblock model that kept vehicles on the perimeter and allowed for pedestrians and bike traffic through all areas of the development. Connectivity was expanded to better connect to neighborhoods to the east that’s connections were severed by construction of the interstates.
Street Design
Multimodal transportation was the focus of the street design in RISE. Street closures were the focus of RISE to create amazing public spaces that have multiple functions so perimeter streets needed to be efficient and provide facilities for all forms of transportation. Existing bike share programs were also integrated into the street design. Rainwater management systems are included in the tree lawn to mitigate unnecessary runoff into the Missouri River.
