RDG Planning & Design received recognition from Main Street Iowa at the 2012 Main Street Iowa Award ceremony on May 4, 2012 in Des Moines, Iowa. Representatives from RDG Planning & Design and the city of Mason City were on hand to accept the award for a Public Improvement Project for the design of the Federal Avenue Streetscape and Plaza in Mason City, Iowa.

The award was presented during Main Street Iowa's annual awards banquet by Governor Terry Branstad and Debi Durham, Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority. RDG, in coordination with WHKS & Co. and Waggoner & Wineinger Architects, provided design and construction services for Mason City's Federal Avenue Streetscape and Plaza. Located in downtown Mason City, this project consists of four mixed-use city blocks and a city plaza adjacent to the Frank Lloyd Wright Park Inn. Completed in the fall of 2011, the streetscape includes custom furnishings, art, pavers and plantings uniquely designed to highlight the City of Mason City's rich architectural heritage.

The mission of the Main Street Iowa Program is to improve the social and economic well-being of Iowa's communities by assisting selected communities to capitalize on the unique identity, assets and character of their historic commercial district. Main Street is economic development within the context of historical preservation.

Well before HUD found funding for this work, RDG has been helping community's craft their own vision for sustainable regional plans. These plans have been built with a solid foundation of rich public engagement around a broad scope of economic, social, and natural resource factors.

Data - We start with a clear picture of how sustainable a community is today working toward where they want to be in the future. Our team works with communities to design a sustainability current conditions research plan which empowers local leaders to develop more intelligent visioning and implementation strategies.

Education - Getting community leaders on the same page is critical in any project launch. As an initiative unfolds, education helps leaders embrace the benefits of looking at issues collaboratively. This, in turn, builds skills for understanding the inter-play between social, economic, and environmental challenges facing a community.

Vision - Few planning initiatives are successful without a driving vision. While a vision might adjust slightly over the life of a project, it is critical to engage community leaders from across a wide spectrum of public and private sectors so a project starts off on the right foot.

Strategy - Once a solid vision is in place, it is critical for community leaders to develop a set of executable strategies to bring a community from where it is today to where it wants to be tomorrow. Everyone in a community has a stake in making the future start to happen.

Local Governance - In sustainability planning, a broad spectrum of the local community (individuals, households, neighborhoods, businesses, organizations, and local governments) all have crucial ownership roles in implementing a sustainability plan once it is adopted.

Implementation Tools - Often, planners and community partners need to develop mechanisms in the form of incentives, policies, codes, guidelines, and community-engagement innovations to help implement the plan further, faster.

Outcomes of Effective Sustainability Planning:
Strong sense of community. Sustainable communities have a level of vibrancy - built from coordinating leader and grassroots engagement around vision, strategy, and implementation.

Cultural identity. From this strength, a unique identity emerges - aspects of a community's character that give a place its mark, its sense of common purpose beyond the routine.

Quality, affordable housing choices. When local residents have access to quality housing, their overall quality of life improves; they are more productive at work and happier overall.

Effective, interconnected transportation systems. Communities and regions need valid transportation options allowing companies, workers, residents, and visitors to travel by car, bus, bicycle, or on foot.

Diversity of job growth, economic vitality. No community will maintain its vibrancy without an educated, diverse, well-employed work force capable of weathering the ongoing challenges of economic flux.

21st Century Education Systems. Public, private, and parochial schools give students the opportunities to succeed in life. Education opportunities in the area affect the ability of our region to attract and retain jobs and overall community wealth.

Individual, family, and community health. Sustainable communities strive to connect people to wellness, active lifestyles, healthy food, effective medical care and more.

Quality recreation, entertainment and community/outdoor spaces. Prospering communities appreciate the value residents place on their ability to connect with friends and family through restorative play and cultural amenities. This includes ensuring that quality parks, recreation and natural resources are an integral part of any community's sustainability plan.

A panel of judges representing the design industry, Des Moines Water Works and the Greater Des Moines area, reviewed 44 proposals and selected 5 finalists for further review and public comment. The winning team of Sasaki Associates, RDG Planning & Design and Applied Ecological Services was confirmed by the Board of Water Works Trustees of the City of Des Moines at their regular meeting on January 24th.

The competition sought proposals to integrate the ecological and social function of a park and river into a unified landscape; to inspire the community and to generate discussion about watershed issues and best practices; and offer innovative design solutions to address ecological and recreational challenges specific to Water Works Park. Throughout the design process, the design team interviewed citizens, community leaders, focus groups, and stakeholders, and will continue engaging the public throughout the master plan and implementation process of the park.

Des Moines Water Works and the design team will begin a concept validation process which will address specific issues and include public outreach. It is expected that a majority of the funds for implementation of the vision plan will be obtained through private fundraising and will not be borne by water rate payers.

Please visit Water Works Parkitecture to learn more about the winning design. Visit Des Moines Water Works to learn more about Water Works Park and the key role of Des Moines Water Works to provide safe, clean and reliable water supply to approximately 500,000 people in the Greater Des Moines area.

 At the Nebraska American Planning Association Conference, RDG Planning & Design was recognized with the Excellence in Planning for Best Practice Award for the Lexington, Neb. Downtown Revitalization Plan.

To see the video and read more about "Nebraska Loves our Public Schools" and Omaha's North High Science and Technology Addition, click here

If you would like to see more about the North High Addition visit our project page.

The "Grand Celebration" of the much anticipated High Trestle Bridge is scheduled for Saturday April 30, 2011. It will be hosted by the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) and the five communities connected by the High Trestle Trail - Ankeny, Sheldahl, Slater, Woodward and Madrid. Starting at 10:00 am visitors can cross the new bridge which, standing at 13 stories tall, is estimated to be the fifth largest pedestrian bridge in the country. Spanning one half-mile across the Des Moines River Valley, it is complemented by unique artistic features that reflect the rich history of the area and offers one of the most spectacular views in all of Iowa.

RDG Planning & Design was part of the multi-disciplinary design team responsible for the bridge's completion. The team is comprised of Iowa based organizations, including Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and its partners, the Iowa Department of Transportation, Polk County Conservation Board, Snyder & Associates, Shuck-Briston, and several other talented contractors and subcontractors. Funding for the project came from the local communities, private donations, non-profit organizations and grants, including Vision Iowa.

Artist, David Dahlquist of the RDG Dahlquist Art Studio, with colleagues from RDG Planning & Design, was responsible for creating the early concepts and interpretive artist aspects of the bridge. In total, six interdisciplinary teams at RDG participated in the project including the art studio, landscape architecture, urban design, multimedia, engineering and lighting. According to Don Scandrett, RDG Architect and project manager for the artistic elements on the High Trestle Bridge, "Teamwork was the key to this project - from the initial planning and design phases to the final installation of the artwork." He said, "We worked hard to complete this project and now we can enjoy the benefits. Our team will be out with everyone else celebrating the bridge opening with our own RDG bike ride that day."

For more on the artwork - view the website http://rdgusa.com/high_trestle_trail/latest_news

For a full listing of the activities planned for the Grand Celebration on April 30, 2011 http://www.inhf.org/trails/high_trestle_trail/hightrestletrail-celebration_overview.htm

LEED for Commercial Interiors is the green benchmark for the tenant improvement market. It is the recognized standard for certifying high-performance green interiors that are healthy, productive places to work; are less costly to operate and maintain; and have a reduced environmental footprint. LEED for Commercial Interiors gives the power to make sustainable choices to tenants and designers, who do not always have control over whole building operations.

Additional information regarding the projects sustainable features and LEED scorecard is available via the interactive touch screen (located in the offices lobby), and can also be accessed via the internet at: http://www.qagraphics.com/aia

If you would like to see the AIA Integrated Design video that was produced by our Multi Media studio, please view via this link: www.qagraphics.com/aia

Morril Hall, also located on ISU's campus was honored with a "Cradle to Cradle" Merit Award. This collegiate facility, originally constructed in 1890 to serve as the college library, museum, chapel, and classroom spaces, has been revitalized and re-purposed into functioning, state-of-the-art classrooms and exhibit space. Morrill Hall is certified LEED® Sliver, and one of only a handful of LEED certified buildings in the country that is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The design-built merit award winning John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park transformed this once forgotten area of downtown Des Moines into an international destination and a 24/7 environment capable of connecting the spirit of the artist with the public. This 4.4 acre space is organized into simple, elegantly shaped "outdoor rooms" to act as a backdrop for various collections, with no fences, no gates and no admission fee. A relatively small public investment in open space and infrastructure has spawned an overwhelming private and community commitment to this diverse mixed use cultural district.

Two other projects winning merit awards are Belmont Park Natural Playscape and The Neighborhood at Indian Creek. In the design-unbuilt category, Belmont Park Natural Playscape is designed as an outdoor space that is inviting and reflective of the culturally diverse Belmont Neighborhood of Lincoln, Nebraska and encourages play through non-traditional and natural play components. The park creates learning and recreational opportunities through the use of existing natural features, natural play elements and interactive public art. The Neighborhood at Indian Creek, a planning merit award winner, captures the emerging vision of the community of Marion, Iowa for this mixed use development with its Midwestern Architectural character and a neighborhood feel through neo-traditional planning.

As a corporation, we can only provide as much value to our projects and our community as the value our employees create. As the recipient of the 2010 top 5 Best Places to Work award among Omaha's medium-sized companies, RDG is honored to accept this award that coins us "one of the best in Omaha".

The best places to work survey is an annual initiative of Baird Holm, LLP, and the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, that provides an opportunity for employers to learn more about the engagement and satisfaction of their staff through an online employee survey. "This survey is another opportunity to help shape the future of RDG," says John Birge. "It is very helpful to our firm in understanding how everyone feels about the overall direction of the firm and its leadership. It also gives us a year-to-year scorecard on how we are doing," says Birge.

The survey, conducted through Quantum Workplace, lends its proprietary employee survey methodology and survey software for the nominees in each competition. As a result of the survey data, Quantum uses analytical tools to rank the top organizations in small, medium and large-sized companies.

RDG SWB first participated in the Best Places to Work survey in 2005. That same year, RDG was recognized as one of the Best Places to Work top 5 medium-sized companies in Omaha. Since then, RDG has participated in the survey every year and has used survey results to implement programs that address issues or concerns raised by employees during the survey process. Areas addressed through the years include additional benefit programs such as: SimplyWell, Employee Assistance Programs and financial and emotional health education presentations, among others. Improved communication tools between employees and management and sustainability programs have also been implemented.

Another perk in participating in the Best Places to Work survey is being recognized among our clients. "Our desire to work with clients who share the same value system that we do is exhibited through the fact that they are recognized in the same category that we are," says Birge referring to our client Vetter Health Services who was awarded first place

in our same size category for companies with 50-250 employees.

RDG was recognized, along with the other top companies, May 6th 2010 at the Best Places to Work Awards Luncheon at the Qwest Center Omaha.

Vibrant student recreation centers have been mainstays of contemporary college campuses. So have health-conscious students. To take full advantage of these trends, many institutions are merging their recreation center
and student health center into a single facility. Call it a one-stop campus shop for enhanced student wellness.

Merged departments benefit from cross-programming opportunities and synergies inherent to cohabitation. Student recreation, which typically aids campus recruiting, retention and overall quality of life, also provides students with the opportunity to form lifelong healthy living habits. Student health deals primarily in curative healthcare, often including psychological, social and emotional counseling as program offerings. Direct association between the two
entitles affords the opportunity to reach the campus population in a wellness mode - before curative medicine is necessary.

This mirrors a similar and growing dynamic in community-based healthcare and wellness facilities. In 2003, Healthcare Design noted that wellness center trends in the community marketplace "are general health-consciousness movements, along with reimbursement-driven incentives, to keep people healthy." These wellness centers typically provide the additional resources and motivational assistance necessary to help individuals reach health and wellness goals. The same can now be said of an increasing number of campus recreation centers, starting with their core programs in recreation and health.

With exercise, information and education, people increase their chances to lead healthier and more independent lifestyles.

What is wellness? It is a state of optimal well-being oriented towards maximizing an individual's potential. Specifically, it involves a lifelong process of achieving well-being in at least six commonly identified dimensions; physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, and environmental. Many promote this as a lifestyle requiring personal responsibility and a willingness to make ongoing healthy choices. The World Health Organization (way back in 1948) defined this lifestyle (then called health) as "...a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."

Wellness is a holistic approach to health maintenance and improvement, as opposed to waiting for people to become sick and then treating their sickness. The concept is simple, according to Healthcare Design; "With exercise, information and education, people increase their chances to lead healthier and more independent lifestyles."

Integrative medicine - a growing field of medicine in which patients and providers work together to develop a diagnostic and therapeutic program, drawing on a variety of traditions, expertise and modalities - also plays a part in the pursuit of wellness. According to WebMD, IM "depends on a partnership between the patient and the doctor, where the goal is to treat the mind, body and spirit, all at the same time."

This multidisciplinary approach and broader treatment options dovetail perfectly with the services provided by campus recreation professionals, who can leverage their specialized knowledge and resources to provide maximum therapeutic value for students. For campus healthcare providers, a merger provides staff and patients with immediate access to athletic or intramural activity spaces, larger physical therapy facilities and significantly larger fitness and weight rooms, thus reinforcing their programs and the benefits of lifelong activity and exercise. This is in keeping with the "Standards of Practice for Health Promotion in Higher Education," released in 2004 by the American College Health Association.

Moreover, college recreation programs often are intertwined with a variety of academic pursuits -- everything from athletic training to biomechanics research to exercise physiology -- that also offer opportunities for synergy. Forward-thinking recreation and health program providers find ongoing opportunities for connection to the campus population, expanding their reach in beneficial ways. These programs range from professional information-oriented fairs to facilitated education classes, and from simple but informative wall displays to outpatient medical testing. Relevant partnerships can also take the form of on-site pharmacies, massage studios, and retail space offering fitness products and therapeutic goods.

Perhaps the most intriguing application of these kinds of shared services is currently in design on the University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, where the objective is to establish a synergistic relationship between existing programs in human nutrition, integrative medicine and women's health research while enhancing student fitness, health, research and lifestyle management. Supporting these specific disciplines and goals will be outreach and education spaces, a demonstration kitchen, a healthful food café/bistro, a fitness center, a therapeutic pool and a healthful food market -- all complemented by a 10-room, short-stay hospitality venue.

Functionally, student health centers make for good roommates. On many campuses, these densely packed medical facilities function efficiently within 4,000 square feet (depending on the number of practitioners and the overall service population) -- less space than is consumed by a small gymnasium, or just five racquetball courts.

Minimal program requirements dictate that space be allocated for universal-size exam rooms, a treatment room, a nurses station, a phlebotomy area, an immunization cubicle, a small patient laboratory, secure medicine storage, clean/dirty linen storage, restrooms, offices for medical professionals, a records management room, a billing and administration processing area, and a patient waiting area. Recreation spaces that student health practitioners can share typically include an entry foyer/lobby, a large interior rotunda/centrum, classrooms, group exercise rooms, weight training and cardio fitness rooms, and smaller gymnasiums. All of these spaces can support diverse programming needs while considerably increasing the exposure of the student health operation.

Issues of functional space design within the actual health center are critical. First, there are the medically driven health code requirements to keep dirty resources from contaminating clean ones. Second, medical practitioners often use a second entrance for uninterrupted access for health professionals to and from the student health center. (Sick, contagious or critically injured individuals may also need a way in and out of the facility without using the front door, particularly if traveling by gurney.) Third, medical facilities have unique planning considerations related to patient security, auditory separation and critical workflow. Institutions need to consult with individuals who understand these challenges early in the design process.

Whether designing from scratch or moving student health into an existing recreation facility, the institution should seek a design solution that promotes each department and its brand. Then, with properly planned space adjacencies, the programs can comingle to whatever level desired. The importance of getting this right from the start cannot be overstated, since it is next to impossible to overcome poor location or unacceptable space relationships.

A well-conceived merger design ensures visual connections. Upon entering the building, recreation patrons should have views to three or more primary activity venues as a means to entice participation. This concept also applies to the health center, so that in its given location (whether in the free zone or behind the control desk) patrons know it exists. Placement along one of the primary interior view corridors is a recommended means to this end.

"Right now, we shuttle people back and forth to student health, across campus," says University of Nebraska at Omaha director of student health Marcia Adler, whose health center operations are being incorporated into a campus recreation center renovation and expansion that's currently under construction. "In our new facility, we will be right on deck. I can't wait to be there; it is totally the right place to be. Proximity provides access and peer awareness. Health is part of daily practices, and being in the middle [of this facility] puts health front and center."

That said, all design decisions require prudence. As stated earlier, healthcare facilities have more mission-critical operations affecting personal privacy than do recreation facilities, and that fact should influence building design. While high visibility can increase attention, it doesn't necessarily mean that student health should be located right inside the recreation center's front door. The "see and be seen" mentality when working out doesn't translate to walking into a counseling session or receiving outpatient treatment for flu. In reality, the vast majority of students show up for sore throats and routine exams, but with proper planning of the facility, its entry sequence and traffic flow, the sensitivities of health center patrons can be well accommodated.

Within the recreation center, cross-training sessions are easily enhanced when student healthcare and wellness education is incorporated. Consider the potential benefits of facilitated workouts and group exercise classes when they offer a clear focus on proper technique while providing health information from medical personnel. This holds the potential to improve not only student education, but also participation, thanks to a more diverse programming menu.

In addition, there are many business intricacies to consider when combining student health and recreation under one roof. Like most commercial ventures, a solid business plan is essential. Attention must be paid not only to the suitable location of each tenant, but also related costs, departmental differences and overall space demands. Beyond the capital investment involved in building new or relocating existing student health operations, the issue of cost is minimal since few if any new operational hurdles will be encountered in a new location. Turf wars between the recreation and health departments are possible, but can be mitigated so long as the overarching focus remains on student well-being as it relates to maximum opportunity and success.

More institutions than ever are building student recreation centers that include a full slate of health services in an effort to maximize the student wellness experience and further improve overall quality of student life. Missouri Southern State University opened just such a facility last month. Darren Fullerton, director of student life and dean of students, says that combining resources allows MSSU to offer many programs that were previously unavailable. "We know that our combined staff in health and rec will be very good for the students," Fullerton says.

Further evidence of this mind-set emerged in the 2009 Athletic Business Architectural Showcase. Of 22 projects identified as collegiate student recreation facilities, five include significant student health centers (see "Showcased," below). This is more than a flash in the pan; it may soon represent the norm as to how student recreation and health services are packaged.

Merging departments and people of like mind brings great value to the already highly regarded collegiate student recreation center. As the American College Health Association summarized in its "Healthy Campus 2010" initiative, "Advancing the health of college students influences the quality and productivity of their lives in the workplace and in the community." If planned properly, recreation and health mergers enrich the campus fabric and society as a whole -- a healthy relationship, indeed.