In 2010, the National Park Service and the City of St. Louis, Missouri held an international design competition intended to solicit imaginative and achievable ideas for revitalizing the grounds surrounding the world famous St. Louis Arch. As a member of the Gateway Arch Design Competition jury, Dave Leland helped to evaluate concepts submitted by design teams from around the world, and to select the final project designers. We are thrilled to say that construction is now underway for the CityArchRiver
2015 project, and the Missouri Department of Transportation has begun a transformative series of roadway improvements around the Market and Chestnut Street Bridges in order to create a “Park Over the Highway.”
Design goals included catalyzing increased vitality in downtown St. Louis and the region, connecting downtown St. Louis to the Arch grounds and riverfront, and honoring the defining elements of the historic landmark. Design competitors were also charged with reinvigorating the park’s mission and telling the story of St. Louis as the gateway to America’s westward expansion, creating attractors to promote extended visitation to Arch, the city and the river, and in doing so mitigate the impact of transportation systems that have separated parts of the city for decades.