Aspen Downtown Enhancement and Pedestrian Plan

Aspen, Colorado

Client: City of Aspen

After completing City of Aspen's Downtown Enhancement and Pedestrian Master Plan for them, Design Workshop recommended specific street improvements in the downtown core coordinated with levels of intensity of pedestrian and vehicle use. The hierarchy ranged from “Primary” – including reorganizing parking to widen and rebuild sidewalks, to “Connections” – simply installing concrete sidewalks where none previously existed. The plan reintroduces unique streetscape elements, such as the leaning rail, that are based on historic precedents documented in the City of Aspen's archives. To test the conceptual design's effectiveness, a two-block zone was selected for construction of a prototype. After preparing design development and construction documents, Design Workshop met with a citizen advisory group, adjacent property owners, and technical representatives from City engineering, planning, and transportation. With the approval of final drawings, Design Workshop assisted the client in the bid process and a fast-track construction period of only eight weeks.