LAGI Willimantic
Invited Competition
The following three teams were invited through an RFQ process to participate in LAGI Willimantic.
Design Site
Willimantic Whitewater Partnership (WWP) has recently remediated a prominent site in the heart of Willimantic, Connecticut and prepared it for development. Soon it will be home to a new whitewater park and other public amenities that WWP envisions will be powered with on-site renewable energy.
LAGI is working with WWP in partnership with the Institute for Sustainable Energy (ISE) at Eastern Connecticut State University, and the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Office of the Arts.
The WWP site offers the perfect opportunity to integrate renewable energy, with a richness of resources, including hydro, solar, and wind. The site, in such a prominent location in downtown Willimantic, is ideally situated to be a catalyst for economic and community development.
Interestingly, there is a history of energy around the property. Hydro power provided much of the energy used to run the Smithville cotton mills. Two generations of dam expansions provided increases in power output. There still remains the option to bring small scale run-of-the-river hydro power generation back to the site.
Partners
Willimantic Whitewater Partnership
Institute for Sustainable Energy (ISE)
at Eastern Connecticut State University
Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Office of the Arts
Rio Iluminado, the winner of LAGI WIllimantic.
Designed by Pirie Associates Architects and team.
Eddy Line, designed by Höweler + Yoon Architecture and team.
Solar Boombox, designed by dinep + schwab and team.
LAGI Willimantic design site. Photo courtesy of Robison Imagery
LAGI Willimantic Community Placemaking Workshop, January 17, 2018
Community members and design teams exchanged ideas and shared thoughts about best
possible outcomes for the design site. Photo credit Zac Stygar
Local community had the opportunity to vote for their favorite design at Kerri Gallery
during the month of April 2018.
LAGI Willimantic Community Placemaking Workshop, January 17, 2018
Community members and design teams exchanged ideas and shared thoughts about best
possible outcomes for the design site. Photo credit Zac Stygar
LAGI Willimantic Community Placemaking Workshop, January 17, 2018
Community members and design teams exchanged ideas and shared thoughts about best
possible outcomes for the design site. Photo credit Zac Stygar
LAGI Willimantic Community Placemaking Workshop, January 17, 2018
Community members and design teams exchanged ideas and shared thoughts about best
possible outcomes for the design site. Photo credit Zac Stygar
LAGI Willimantic Community Placemaking Workshop, January 17, 2018
Community members and design teams exchanged ideas and shared thoughts about best
possible outcomes for the design site. Photo credit Zac Stygar
Community workshop on March 3, 2017
Community workshop on March 3, 2017
LAGI Willimantic Information Session, October 11, 2017
LAGI Willimantic design site.
LAGI Willimantic design site.
LAGI Willimantic design site.
Rio Iluminado Team
(Winning Design)
PIRIE ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS
multi-disciplinary practice in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design/place-making, interpretive design, and sustainability
LINDSAY SUTER
architect & sustainability expert
GAR WATERMAN
sculptor
Solar Boombox Team
CLAUDIA DINEP
landscape architect + ecological designer
KRISTIN SCHWAB
landscape architect + professor of landscape architecture
TED EFREMOFF
social practice artist + professor
of art
MATT MACUNAS
public policy + green energy advisor
+plus a renewables experts team
Learn more about LAGI Willimantic
and the design site:
LAGI Willimantic:
a Blueprint for Socioeconomic Development in Post-Industrial Cities
Project Background
On March 3, 2017, the Institute for Sustainable Energy (ISE) a Eastern Connecticut State University and the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Office of the Arts hosted the Land Art Generator for a workshop in Willimantic.
Participants in this afternoon “think tank” put their heads together around the design challenges of the WWP site.
During the workshop, community members investigated how renewable energy technologies can be incorporated into public art and creative placemaking opportunities so that the intervention on this exciting site will bring the greatest benefit to the city and its people.
The Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was an outcome of this community workshop.
Eddy Line Team
HÖWELER + YOON ARCHITECTURE
architecture
GRAY ORGANSCHI
architecture
PUSH STUDIO
sculptural landscape
NSPIREGREEN
community engagement