Dothan, Alabama

City Center
Block
Conceptual
Design

Client
City of Dothan
Location
Dothan, AL
Completion date
March 2022

Following a community-wide planning process, RDG was commissioned to synthesize, evolve and help prioritize elements that would combine to serve as core Downtown Dothan City Center Block projects - a major transformation and revitalization for this southern city. 

The ambitious design envisions more than $200 million in downtown development projects to be financed and advanced through a combination of public and private sources led initially by the City of Dothan and the Wiregrass Foundation. 

RDG is the executive architect, and will work with multiple local firms to design and implement the following: 

Open Space Areas  

Porter Park Way - New Pedestrian Linkage and Events Plaza  

New City Center Events Street  

New East Roundabout and Poplar Head Park  

Building-Specific Projects  

Relocated City/Municipal Offices 

Transformation & Renovation: Wiregrass Arts and Innovation Center 

New Events, Sports and Entertainment Arena 

Opera House Enhancements/Addition 

New Hotel and Mixed-Use Developments 

Flexible Re-Purposed Space 

New Parking Structure   

The open spaces each have their own character. Porter Park Way will be a major public pedestrian pathway that links the City Center hub with business and retail activities downtown. The Events Plaza will include a tiered amphitheater, shaded areas and water enhancements, sure to become a popular destination for festivals and programmed events. The new East Roundabout synthesizes, organizes and brings efficiency to that area's multi-road/street/highway intersection.

Building-Specific Projects include an Arts and Innovation Center that gives the Wiregrass Museum of Arts a new home and also consists of a black box theater, community theater programming and performance spaces, and spaces for arts, entrepreneurship and community uses. The new +4,500-seat Events, Sports & Entertainment Arena will have multiple layout options and be a highly recognizable symbol for the downtown area. A new addition will add accessibility and functional space to the historic Opera House, and a new parking structure and privately-developed hotel will enhance hospitality. 

The project will be implemented in phases over approximately six years.

Awards
Franklin Setzer Urban Design Award
Alabama Chapter APA
2022
Franklin Setzer Urban Design Award
APA Alabama Chapter
2022