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The Lights of Broadway . . . Eagle, Colorado's Broadway, That Is
For the historic four-block Broadway, Colo. streetscape renovation project, the quality of the final design is not only in its details, materials and vision but in the way it authentically evokes the character, history and culture of downtown Eagle, Colorado. The renovated Eagle streetscape is beautifully crafted, a useful and responsive pedestrian environment that brings the history and culture of the region to light.
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Broadway Stretching from Grand Avenue to the north and culminating at 5th Street, the historic four-block Broadway streetscape commercial district has functioned as the heart and front door of Eagle County since its declaration as the county seat in 1921. As the historic main street of Eagle, Colorado, the Broadway streetscape has grown with the community and has a long history of supporting local commercial and civic events. Over the years, the community feel of Broadway has remained. Many of the businesses and shops reflect the unique and welcoming character of historic Eagle, Colo.
The $4 million renovation of the sidewalks, utilities, site furnishings, intersections, signage and pavement along four-blocks of Broadway was a collaborative effort from the start. Recognizing the economic importance of a downtown that encourages walking, shopping and activity, the town of Eagle set aside funds to redesign Broadway and bring it up to date.
Relationship to Context Closed off to through-traffic with the construction of the County Building over 20 years ago, the streetscapes of downtown Eagle were suffering from a lack of through-traffic and unappealing and bland pedestrian spaces. As new developments adjacent to the historic downtown began to design ?EUR??,,????'?????<
They wanted the historic downtown to function as the front door to the community of Eagle, and reflect the history and the recreational opportunities within the Eagle watershed. By working closely with the town and community, the redeveloped streetscape reflects the historic and regional character of the downtown and the regional landscape.
Public Matters During a series of public meetings between the town leaders, the project team and the residents and business owners of Eagle, an open discussion of Broadway?EUR??,,????'?????<
The before and after reveals a streetscape in front of the Town Hall formerly defined by cars, with a narrow and uninviting sidewalk. The concrete block seat wall has a thin cut natural stone veneer (Aspenbark ?EUR??,,????'?????<
Design Program and Intent In its concept and details, the redesigned Broadway streetscape evokes the feel and flow of water as it moves through the Eagle watershed (Brush Creek and Eby Creek which extend south and north of town and significant acreages along the Eagle River and Interstate 70 east and west of town). Thematically, water was chosen due to its importance to the regional landscape, as well as its connection to the history of Eagle, whose name derives from the eagle-feather-shaped path the water takes as it moves down into the valley. The redesigned streetscape also hearkens back to the history of Broadway as a major commercial and arterial street. The custom-designed gateway monuments at either end of the streetscape, in particular, recall the early transportation history of Broadway, drawing from 1930s era highway and train travel signage and monuments.
The old streetscape, minus a rutted and narrower dirt street and the swinging doors of a saloon, looks not unlike dozens of generic towns depicted in cowboy movies. The new sidewalks, bump outs, pedestrian crossings, planters, new pole lighting and tree plantings have truly transformed the look of Broadway. The improvements to the building facades has also refreshed the town?EUR??,,????'?????<
Two Distinct Sidewalk Areas The redesigned Broadway streetscape has two distinct types of sidewalk areas. Within each block, naturalistic and informal spaces on one side of the street complement more traditional streetscape elements on the other. Integrated into the design of these formal and informal spaces are two types of parking: parallel parking adjacent to the natural areas, and angled parking along the more formal walkways. As you move through the Broadway streetscape, these natural and formal areas alternate along its length, connected and woven together by swathes of textured and colored pavement. Narrowed pedestrian crossings at intersections and mid-blocks also help unite the design, while creating more inviting and safe places for people to cross the street. By creating both informal and formal areas, the redeveloped streetscape is not only reflective of the unique history and culture of Eagle, it also creates a more dynamic and exciting place to be.
Design Themes of the Broadway Streetscape: Nature Along the Street In the more naturalistic streetscape areas, formal street trees and pole lights are abandoned in favor of curved rock seat walls, large landscape planters, boulders and specialty paving that curves and flows, water-like, down the street. Here, pedestrians can gather on generous seat walls, surrounded by native plants and shaded by informally grouped ornamental trees. Even in the pavement details, the colors and textures of a fossilized streambed reinforce ties to the Eagle River and watershed.
History in the Details The naturalistic areas of Broadway are complemented by the more linear and grid-like design of the trees, seating and lighting in the more formal portions of the streetscape. Here, the same materials that reflect the flow and feel of water are organized in a linear fashion. Instead of informal flowering tree groupings, large canopy trees in decorative metal tree grates are evenly spaced along the street. Seating, too, is more traditional, with benches sited to create gathering areas where pedestrians can rest and window-shop at their leisure.
Before and After: The main accent paving (left side) incorporates ?EUR??,,????'?????<
Broadway at Night At night, specialty lighting creates a sense of festive mystery along the streetscape, while protecting views of the night sky by using cut-off lights and low voltages. In the naturalized areas, colored uplights cast serene and intriguing patterns on native stone boulders, while imbedded lights in the planters and walls draw attention to seating and allow shadows to illustrate the texture and color of the redesigned pavement. In planting beds, uplights also focus attention onto ornamental trees and shrubs. In contrast to the more dramatic lighting in the naturalistic planting beds, in the stretches of traditional streetscape, pedestrian-scaled pole lights create a graceful rhythm along the sidewalk.
Project Collaboration The Broadway streetscape renovation was grounded in an open and collaborative team effort. As the design team lead, Britina Design Group was the principal interface between the town of Eagle and the project team. Establishing the initial relationship with the community led to public meetings that helped design and envision the streetscape, develope the final construction documents, and oversee the in-field installation and completion of the redesigned streetscape.
Environmental Impact and Concerns In its vision and details, the Broadway streetscape renovation shows a commitment to environmental stewardship. All project materials were chosen for their durability and sustainability. The lighting incorporates both low-voltage and night-sky-saving cut-off fixtures, which reduce energy use and preserve the natural environment. The large planters and ?EUR??,,????'?????<
Design for Historic Downtowns Preserving the authentic experience of historic downtowns is critically important. As the heart of many communities, historic downtowns are the places were parades are held, festivals celebrated, neighbors meet and people gather. To that end, their degree of inclusiveness, authenticity and stewardship should reflect the highest community ideals.
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Historic downtowns are a unique part of our cultural fabric, a touchstone for traditions and place-centered activities that have deep cultural roots. Envisioning the streetscapes of historic downtowns in a deep and thoughtful way is one of the most important mandates for the profession of landscape architecture.
About the Firm Britina Design Group was the lead consultant on the Broadway streetscape renovation. Britina Design Group is supported by over 60 years of combined experience in land planning, landscape architecture, construction documentation and project administration. The firm?EUR??,,????'?????<
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Broadway, Colo. Streetscape Team Client: Town of Eagle, Colo. ?EUR??,,????'?????< Design / Consultants: Landscape Architect, Lead Consultant: Britina Design Group ?EUR??,,????'?????< Civil Engineer: V3 Companies of Colorado ?EUR??,,????'?????< Electrical Engineer/Lighting Designer: ME-Engineers ?EUR??,,????'?????< Irrigation Designer: Hines Irrigation Consultants ?EUR??,,????'?????< General Contractor: Martinez Western Constructors Landscape and Irrigation Contractor: SPL, Inc. Electrical Contractor: Western Slope Electrical
Suppliers / Products Lighting: MH Lighting - AAL (Pedestrian Pole Lights, Banner Poles) Pavers: Pavestone Site Furnishings: Landscape Forms (Benches, Trash Receptacles); Stonewear (Planter Pots); Urban Accessories (Tree Grates) Stone Veneer: Robinson Rock Custom Fabrication: NeoSource (Gateway Monuments, Bike Racks)
Eagle (pop. 3,032) is a small town in west central Colorado that draws on its history and its rural western character for its identity. The community sits at 6,600 ft. elevation and is surrounded by open lands and mountain vistas.
The Eagle Area Community Plan (March 30, 2010) notes the 1970s, '80s and '90s saw growth related to skiing and resort tourism in eastern Eagle County. The ski resorts of Vail and Beaver Creek brought many new workers and second homeowners to the valley, escalating real estate prices and a westward migration of residents and businesses in Eagle County toward areas less influenced by resort tourism. The quiet agricultural communities of Eagle and Gypsum experienced unprecedented residential and commercial growth.
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The community plan also notes the unincorporated lands that surround Eagle?EUR??,,????'?????<
If the town sounds vaguely familiar, it may be because Eagle received some unwanted attention as the site of the Kobe Bryant sexual assault trial.
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