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Heart of the City

Landscape Architecture, Urban Design
This project seeks to create a vibrant, world-class urban downtown that reflects and amplifies the true character of Rochester, Minnesota.

Heart of the City is in the core of Rochester, Minnesota: two city blocks situated between the world-renowned Mayo Clinic and thriving with numerous hotels, shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues.  This project is a collaboration with RSP Architects,  HR&A Advisors, and Kimley-Horn & Associates to discover, dream, design, and implement a holistic strategy for the Heart of the City.    

Location
Rochester, MN
Timeline
Anticipated Spring 2022
Client
Destination Medical Center, City of Rochester
Collaborators
El Dorado, HR&A Advisors, RSP, Latent Design
Size
<25 acres

The project negotiates a balance between a contemplative and healing atmosphere that reverberates from the clinic, and a vibrant public space that celebrates downtown life.  A central plaza provides an inviting pedestrian-friendly zone with a wealth of opportunities to gather—from relaxing and walking among the gardens to attending festivals, concerts, pop-up markets, and other city events.

A unique feature, and a focus of this plaza is an interactive art space. This space invites residents and Mayo visitors to immerse themselves in a community sky-viewing experience, bringing together two populations in more meaningful interaction. In support of this theme, a large, data-driven art piece changes colors when miracles occur at the clinic: purple for a birth and yellow for an all-clear for cancer. 

 

This reveals just a small piece of the magic that occurs daily at the clinic, and the result is a compelling public space that is uniquely Rochester. The Heart of the City is where life is celebrated, both in the gatherings with family, friends and community, and in in the contemplative moments in the middle of the city that create a shared sense of awe.