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August 2005 SummaryNew Recreation Center design for University of Iowa is underway Adelante South Omaha! Forward South Omaha New Recreation Center design for University of Iowa is underwayRDG Planning & Design is developing plans for the new University of Iowa East Campus Recreation Center
In Iowa, RDG Planning & Design has its stamp on higher education sports and recreation venues, with completed facilities like the new Football Practice Facility at Iowa State University, the Drake University Knapp Center, the Ron Schipper Fitness Center at Central College, and the University of Northern Iowa Wellness Recreation Center. Nationally, from its offices in Des Moines, RDG has designed athletic, recreation, and sport facilities for the University of Florida, University of Central Florida, Florida International University, University of Texas, Franklin & Marshall College, Hastings College, Milwaukee School of Engineering, University of Minnesota at Duluth, Northwestern University, Southern Methodist University, Slippery Rock University, and Montclair State University. Adelante South Omaha! Forward South OmahaBy Martin Shukert, FAICP and Patrick Dunn, ASLA South Omaha, established in 1885 as a land development project of the Union Stockyards Company, has been a gateway of economic opportuity for people of many ethnicities and cultures during its history. The stockyards and the industries that grew up around them created jobs for central and eastern European Immigrants to America, who often settled in surrounding neighborhoods. The South Omaha Business District was the center of this burgeoning community, and grew into a commercial district second in importance only to downtown Omaha. Starting in the 1980s and accelerating through the 1990s, South Omaha has experienced a commercial renaissance, propelled by the growth of Omaha’s Latino community. A flowering of new shops and restaurants has once again made this historic district one of Omaha’s liveliest places and a center for new enterprise. The business district provides its residents with an array of goods and services so important to central city neighborhoods. But its special quality and vitality is in the process of transforming into much more—South Omaha will soon be a destination for all the people of Omaha and for visitors to the city as well. This expanded role for South Omaha benefits the businesses, people and the overall community by: - Increasing markets for local business people which helps their enterprises expand. Recent Planning Efforts The South Omaha business district stands on the verge of great opportunity by using its features, history, ethnic flavor, and unique businesses to serve new customers and visitors. To take advantage of these new opportunities, the city of Omaha and the chamber of commerce’s Target Omaha program joined forces in 2002 to analyze potential markets and develop business and development strategies for the district. The Forward South Omaha planning was unusual in including a detailed market survey that focused on potential new customers for the district and involved people vitally interested in the community in planning for its future. The market survey included a sample of 400 adults who lived between two and 15 miles away from the business district—people who might be from the core of an expanded market for the district. The second part of the process asked people who know South Omaha best—its people, businesses, and property owners—about the condition and potential of the district. This was done through a variety of methods, including surveys, interviews, and focus groups. A survey returned by about 100 area residents, businesses, and property owners indicated that South Omaha’s greatest strengths were its historic character, business growth, location, restaurants, diversity, and opportunity to attract new business. Its most important liabilities are the poor appearance of properties and the overall district, a lack of a sense of safety and security, negative public perceptions, and inconvenient parking. The most important actions for the next five years will be improving the appearance of buildings and the 24th Street streetscape, providing an improved police presence to create a safer-feeling environment, advertising the district effectively, improving street lighting, and providing more convenient parking. The Concept The Forward South Omaha concept is based on this market research and designed to make visiting South 24th Street a memorable and pleasurable experience. It is a major part of an overall district strategy that will expand South Omaha’s appeal to its present and potential customer base by: - Creating an attractive, renewed physical environment that feels safe and comfortable to its users. The South Omaha concept proposes a variety of features that help make this special and vital commercial district more enjoyable, easier to use, more meaningful to a variety of people, and safer. Traffic and Parking Parking is an important consideration in any business district and this is especially true in South Omaha. The South Omaha Concept will provide diagonal parking along 24th Street from L to Q Streets. This will help slow traffic through the business district and create a much safer pedestrian environment. It will also greatly increase the amount of parking along 24th Street that customers find most convenient. Traffic signals at M, N, and O streets will be replaced by four-way stop signs. These four-way stops will calm traffic and create a much safer environment for pedestrians. The diagonal parking and new street circulation concept will be defined by corner nodes at each intersection. These nodes will be landscaped, which will make it easier for pedestrians to cross 24th Street. Streetscape Components In the Forward South Omaha concept, a new streetscape and sidewalk will replace the current expanses of concrete. Each of the following features work to create a new “Mexican townscape,” drawing energy from a cross-cultural icon—the tree of life. The Tree of Life Gateway: At the entrance to the business district at 24th and L and 24th and Q, special gateway features will reflect the many nationalities and cultures that built South Omaha. The 24th Street concept reflects the color, shapes, and symbols of the district’s Latino culture, but also respects other ethnic groups that retain actual and sentimental attachments to the business district. The tree itself will be 36 feet tall made out of two massive steel plates and will support three vertical light tubes symbolizing the growth of this area within the structure of the city. In addition, cut metal pendants of timeless cultural icons will ornament the tree. The Stern: Unifying and activating the horizontal ground plane will be a nearly continuous winding band of green pavers. This stern will provide the framework upon which the features of the streetscape will grow. Leaf Planters: Cast-in-place, color conditioned, raised planters of various sizes and orientations appear along the stern. Color and texture will explode from these planters in the form of detailed vertical ceramic patterns and seasonally changed perennial and annual planting beds. Pottery Benches: Pottery styles from various ethnicities will adorn these two tiered circular benches. Custom made ceramic tile will be applied to a cast in place core. At the center of each bench extending vertically to twelve feet are cut metal lined light columns. Seed Seats: Groupings of vividly colored circular precast seats will not only provide additional seating opportunities, but will give the streetscape year-long color. Bus Shelters: The leaf-shaped roof of these shelters will be made from stainless steel and copper. Exposed from below roof joist will emulate leaf veining giving texture to these simple structures. Paving: In addition to the stem paving, three other primary paving systems will be employed. The most dominant will be remnant granite paving throughout the mid-block areas. Color conditioned tooled paving will occupy the intersection corner node areas and finally, circular and leaf-shaped paving areas will symbolize the Latino traditions of papercut artistry. Street Lighting: New street lighting will line 24th Street, designed to recall the traditional lighting standards that once graced South Omaha and can still be found in some places. These included ornamental brackets, a “teardrop”-shaped pendant light, and an ornamented bracket. The Town Square: The town square is a place of special importance in Mexican communities, and people involved with the planning process emphasize the importance of South Omaha’s version of this institution, the Plaza at 24th and N. Yet, the Plaza, originally designed as a small sidewalk park between the street and parking lot, does not satisfy the true potential of the Square. The plan envisions a new and revitalized La Plaza de la Raza, designed to create one of Omaha’s most actively used small public spaces. La Plaza will build on the concept of a town square and will include a bandstand and performance area, jets of water that will provide light and activity, and a plaza of flags celebrating the major cultures of this area. Current Work Efforts Community support and favorable bidding has allowed this project to proceed throughout 2004 and 2005. The street and parking is nearing completion and streetscape work is following closely behind. Soon, the fabrication and installation of custom tile and metal work will signal a new chapter for this ever evolving and growing cultural landmark. ¡Adelante South Omaha! Or Forward South Omaha is truly in full swing. This streetscape has an excitement and an energy seldom seen in the Midwest and proves that when it comes to Latino urbanism, more is definitely more. Facility Futuresby: Al Oberlander, AIA, Jack Patton, AIA, Kevin Stubbs, AIA, and Paul Klein, AIA The long-term success of the facility you're planning today starts with your ability to imagine the impact of tomorrow's technology. It's a typical morning at the recreation center of the not-too-distant future. At 6 a.m., a man approaches the center's entrance scanner. The door opens immediately because the scanner reads the computer chip implanted in the man's arm, identifying him as a member. Inside, he is greeted warmly by a robot: "Good morning, Mr. Allen. We missed you last week. Follow me, please." Mr. Allen is off to the locker room. By 6:15 a.m., dressed in his state-of-the-art "smart shoes" and "smart clothes," Mr. Allen heads for the track. The shoes automatically adjust the heel cushioning to his weight and stride. The clothes tell him when he's sufficiently warmed up and monitor his performance during the run. Time flies with each lap as he listens to his favorite music from the digital audio player embedded in his shirt, checks stock prices as they roll along on the windows lining the track, and reads a couple of incoming emails on the flexible display screen sewn into his sleeve… Is this scenario possible? Considering that the basic technology to do all of this (and more) already exists, it's very possible. Predicting which of these sorts of applications will actually be embraced by consumers is another matter, of course. Without the benefit of a high-tech crystal ball, it is hard to know how future technology will impact the business of fitness and recreation. Even so, this topic should be a critical consideration when planning your new facility or developing your next business plan. Opinions vary as to exactly what will happen and when, but one thing seems certain: there will soon be a host of new opportunities to use technology in fitness and recreation centers. Some may help improve cost efficiencies of the operation. Some may increase revenues by attracting more users and members. Others may simply become a necessary part of maintaining a competitive center. How can you plan for what you can’t predict? The first step in planning for the future is to imagine the possibilities. (See the following pages for some examples.) Keep your mind wide open and stretch your imagination, but stay grounded; what sells will be whatever best serves the majority of users’ wants and needs. Second, get good advice. Work with design professionals who have intimate knowledge of industry trends and customer expectations, as they have the best ability to anticipate future needs. Do your own homework about new technologies. And be sure to ask your customers what they want, need and expect. Have them help you evaluate new technologies. (Your youngest customers may know the most about this topic.) Third, evaluate an innovation’s potential impact on business. Will it enhance long-term operating efficiencies? Will it improve marketability? Will it be deemed a necessary cost of doing business? Last, incorporate some flexibility into your facility design so that accommodating new technologies will be easier and more affordable. Plan for ease of future infrastructure modification; hundreds of dollars worth of conduit installed under a floor now could save thousands of dollars later. Plan for raceways and routes for future technology. Don’t minimize mechanical room needs, and avoid interior load-bearing walls that limit future flexibility. Future technologies will offer interesting challenges as well as exciting new possibilities. They will impact our lives and businesses and require innovative thinking and practical implementation. So, imagine the possibilities, plan for the challenges and be prepared for an exciting future. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Imagine... Lest this seem more like an episode of The Jetsons than reality, consider the widespread use of robots already performing basic household chores, such as mowing lawns and vacuuming. A report issued by the U.N Economic Commission for Europe and the International Federation of Robotics states that more than 4.1 million domestic robots will likely be in use by the end of 2007. In addition, according to the study, there are currently nearly 700,000 "entertainment robots" around the world. For example, Sony's digital canine, Aibo, has the technology to change its personality, skill level and moods based on its interaction with people and its environment. Possible fitness and recreation center applications: - Behind the scenes, a robot could serve as a cleaning assistant or security guard. Imagine... The prospect of implanting computer chips in humans (a technology currently in widespread use in pets) opens up a range of possible applications. The VeriChip, introduced by Applied Digital Solutions, is a grain of rice-sized microchip that, once implanted, can allow for cashless payments, building access, storage of medical records and the like. At the Baja Beach Club in Barcelona, Spain, 10 of its regular customers have been implanted with the VeriChip, allowing them VIP access. They can thus leave their cash and credit cards at home while making purchases via scanner. Possible fitness and recreation center applications: - Members' workout performance will automatically be tracked and compared to previous workouts. Or, their workout regimen will be adjusted automatically. Imagine... The use of energy capture systems to harness power from the sun (photovoltaic technology) and wind (wind turbines) for use in buildings is on the rise. The Voltaic Backpack by Voltaic Systems Inc. even captures the sun on your backpack, converting it to seven volts of energy — enough to power your PDA, cell phone and other gadgets. As the need and interest in renewable energy sources grows, technology will develop to capture energy from other sources, as well. Potential fitness and recreation center applications: - Ceiling panels might capture body heat and convert it to energy for the building. Imagine... Like C/S Sun Control Products' current skylight shutter system (which tracks the sun and directs solar radiation into or rejects it away from a building), foil systems will change the building envelope itself. These air-filled and foil-laden systems serve simultaneously as roof, wall and window. They are transparent, durable and lightweight, and have great insulating properties. Possible fitness and recreation center applications: - Increased openness will maximize views into and out of a facility. Imagine... Just like the Chevrolet Corvette's Head Up Display, which projects key navigation and vehicle information onto the windshield, combining inexpensive display and processing technologies with wireless connectivity could transform most any glass surface into a display screen. These surfaces could also be instantly switched from a clear view to an opaque surface to a projection-screen surface (like Draper’s First Surface Mirrors, or Switch Lite Privacy Glass, which can instantly change from clear to opaque) for displaying graphics or data. Or, for the best of both, imagine images and information floating on a transparent surface, providing the user with a continuous dose of CNN Headline News. Possible fitness and recreation center applications: - A variety of virtual landscapes could be created (seaside, mountaintop, rolling hills, wildflowers) that are themed with your current programming. Imagine... Flexible display technology exists today. Under development by Anteena, the Flexscreen 02m2 knows what you want it to display (a 10-key pad, video screen or text screen) based upon how you fold it. If used with a wireless connection, you would have the ultimate in anytime, anywhere access to voice, video and data. Possible fitness and recreation center applications: - Video screen: Members could watch their favorite movie or television program while they work out on the elliptical trainer. Imagine... Fitness/body development forecasting, which has been developed and tested by several different companies, may offer a new dimension to visualizing members' progress with a particular fitness routine after 30 days, six months or one year. Current fitness software can help members design a personal fitness program and track their results, while current makeover software can help in predicting everything from how a client will look in a new hairstyle or makeup application to what the results of plastic surgery will be. Currently, virtual models — like the MSN eShop — are programmed to mimic one’s specific body type and can be used to “try on” clothing when shopping at various sites online. Combinations of these technologies will allow for body development forecasting. Some of the existing technology eschews predictions for actual representations of progress. BodyShape Scanners Inc., a British company that in 2002 seemed poised to make a dent in the U.S. market [see “The Shape of Things to Come,” March 2002, p. 98], scanned clients with directional white light at various intervals during their workout regimens, allowing a graphic comparison of their body shapes. Possible fitness and recreation center applications: - How do clients want to look and what will it take to get them there? Identify body development goals (achievable for a client's body type), and a computer will generate various fitness routines to help him or her achieve that look. Imagine... Many smart clothing technologies exist right now, allowing people to wear their brain on their sleeve. For example, the Adidas 1, the first version of smart shoes for runners, is already on the market. How smart is it? Smart enough to adjust the shoe's cushioning to the runner's weight, stride and running surface. A microprocessor embedded in the arch of the shoe is the brain behind the mechanism that adjusts the shoe's heel cushion. Also in the works are shoes and clothing that will sense body temperature and make adjustments to let in cool air when the wearer is hot, and shut out air when the wearer is cold. This specific fabric concept, developed through the joint research of the University of Bath and the London College of Fashion, was showcased in June at the AICHI Expo in Japan. It uses the latest in microtechnology to mimic the system used by pinecones to open up and emit seeds. A collaberation between Burton and Apple has produced an "iPod" jacket with a flexible "SOFTswitch" control pad located on the sleeve, which allows a skier to control an "iPod" while on the slopes without having to unzip or remove gloves. Clothing embedded with entertainment and communication tools could be the wave of the future. Dianne Jones of SOFTswitch predicted in a September 2003 BBC News Online article, "Within the next 10 years we could see 20 percent of garments with electronic components in them." Possible fitness and recreation center applications: - Smart shoes that automatically adjust cushioning (while the wearer is exercising) to optimize comfort and performance could mean an end to resilient flooring systems. Shoes may one day offer maximum performance right on top of a simple concrete slab. |
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