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Exemplary Public Spaces. Civic Pride in Sunny Isles Beach The integration of elevated walkways and linear park systems has recently developed a rich and vibrant reputation as exemplary public space projects. The project type has become a leading force in the conception and development of urban park and open space thinking. From the Highline in New York City, to its original sister Promenade Plantee in Paris, to the 606/The Bloomingdale Trail in Chicago, to the 11th street Bridge Park in Washington DC - these public spaces have become social generators, economic catalysts, and sources of civic pride for citizens and communities. They have the potential to combine infrastructure, civic architecture, public safety, recreation, ecology, and urban park program. We commend the City of Sunny Isles Beach and its efforts to bring this exciting and important project to fruition. Materials and Design Expression Projects such as the Sunny Isles 174th Street Elevated Bridge present opportunities beyond that of a conventional park. The design expression of this project can help reshape the entire neighborhood. The majority of the precedents mentioned above are working off of existing structures. The Highline, the 606, and Promenade Plantee - off of former railroad, the 11th street bridge - an existing highway bridge. Your project, however, will be a completely new structure and park system opening the door for an entirely different range of design possibilities. What should the design expression be for this important project? Should it take cues form the unique history of Sunny Isles Beach, the immediate streetscape context, or its connection to Gilbert Samson Oceanfront Park? Or, should it go in an entirely different direction and it have its own unique identity that becomes a destination, a new urban gateway, and a postcard image of the city? Not only should its overall form be carefully considered, its details and materials will have a dramatic effect on the success of the project. Pavement materials, railings, plant material choices and arrangements, grade of paths, sightlines and overlooks, as well as its type and range of seating elements will have a major effect on how this innovative public space is used and experienced. For example, in our sub-tropical climate, the amount of shade can be one of the most determining factors in the success or failure of an outdoor place. Should this elevated park include children’s play elements, exercise equipment, water play or water elements, amphitheater seating, or opportunities for refreshment? This is just a few of the many public space imperatives that must be carefully integrated into the overall site design composition for this project to live up to its potential. We are stewards of the designs we produce for our clients, of the ways we deliver those designs, and of the value we create for our clients as a result of those designs. Ensuring a positive, world-class experience for our clients— from start to finish and beyond—is paramount. Project Approach 15 City of Sunny Isles | Request for Qualifications No. 19-11-01