MKSK

Congratulations to the City of New Albany, Ohio and our project partners on the opening of Taylor Farm Park! Phase one of this project included 102 acres of reclaimed floodplain, serving as both public open space and wetland mitigation bank. The park is positioned within the floodplain of the Rocky Fork Creek and is built upon an initial phase which provided a significant restoration of forested wetlands. Restoration of upland meadows intertwines the existing riparian edge of the Rocky Fork and newly established forested wetlands with pockets of upland forest, establishing a web-like ecosystem. The park provides many opportunities for the community to enjoy the space including diverse aviary habitats, an aviary observation pavilion and playground, along with two miles of walking trails and a wetland boardwalk which provide key connections to the regional bikeway system and adjacent neighborhoods. Phase two brings to life the historic homestead which was established in 1842 by the Taylor Family.?The reimagination of the homestead has 88 new community garden plots, including 12 raised beds for ADA accessibility. The community garden also features many historic hidden gems, like the original wrought iron fencing that was repurposed to border parts of the garden along with the garden shed and public restroom building which are reminiscent of the historic chicken coop that once existed on the site.?The sandstone paving and black locust wood garden beds were sourced from native materials. Near the entrance of the garden sits a large community table for friends and family to gather or community gardeners to sort through their harvest.? Thank You and Congratulations to our Project Partners: EMH&T E.P. Ferris & Associates The Columbus Architectural Studio Messer Construction Co. Jezerinac Geers & Associates, Inc. Prater Engineering Photo credit: Randall Schieber #MKSK #ShapePlace #PlacesforPeople #LandscapeArchitecture #UrbanDesign #Planning #Design #ASLA #APA #ULI #NewAlbanyOhio #Parks #NewAlbanyOH?#NewAlbany

Happy Back-to-School Season! This week, we are featuring another wonderful university campus: Purdue! Be sure to check out these spots between classes this fall! Projects featured: Purdue University Gateway Northwestern Avenue Plaza Renovation France A. Cordova Recreational Sports Center “Re-State” State Street Master Plan & Implementation #MKSK #ShapePlace #PlacesforPeople #UrbanPlanning #LandscapeArchitecture #ULI #APA #BackToSchool #Purdue

MKSK?is Hiring! We are hiring for two accounting positions in our Columbus, Ohio office. To join our dynamic team, visit our website at mkskstudios.com/careers for more information on our open positions, and to submit your resume. #MKSK #ShapePlace #PlacesforPeople #LandscapeArchitecture #UrbanDesign #Planning #Design #ASLA #APA #ULI #Careers #Hiring #WereHiring #Careersinplanning #Talent #LandscapeArchitect #UrbanDesigner

We continue to celebrate this back-to-school season by featuring another great higher ed campus: University of Cincinnati.? Be sure to check out some of our projects this fall while on campus! Projects featured: Library Square Renovation Clifton Court Hall U Square at the Loop Plaza #MKSK #ShapePlace #PlacesforPeople #UrbanPlanning #LandscapeArchitecture #ULI #APA #BackToSchool #UniversityofCincinnati #UC

MKSK Celebrates World Wildlife Day! Prior to its realignment and restoration, Todd’s Creek was a channelized ditch, unable to accommodate stormwater draining from the upstream developments of Purdue University and West Lafayette and providing no ecological value. During major storm events, the stream banks would overflow and flood State Street, inhibiting further development along the corridor. MKSK partnered with the Purdue Research Foundation, as well as Schneider Geomatics and Christopher B. Burke Engineers to relocate Todd’s Creek and create new a community amenity. The relocation through Purdue University’s Horticulture Park re-activates this once-popular destination through the lenses of habitat, biodiversity, and community health and wellness. Trails, bridges, boardwalks, and overlooks invite the public to this new natural feature. Wildlife can flourish and bring about a healthier and more beautiful location for residents of West Lafayette and Tippecanoe County as well as the students at Purdue University to enjoy. #MKSK #ShapePlace #PlacesforPeople #LandscapeArchitecture #UrbanDesign #Planning #Design #ASLA #APA #ULI #Wildlife #WorldWildlifeDay

MKSK continues to celebrate this back-to-school season by featuring one of our beloved college campuses: The Ohio State University! Classes are back in session at Ohio State, and we encourage students, staff, and visitors to check out a few of our projects around campus this fall.? Projects featured:? William Oxley Thompson Library North Residential District Mirror Lake Enhancements #MKSK #ShapePlace #PlacesforPeople #UrbanPlanning #LandscapeArchitecture #ULI #APA #BackToSchool #OhioState #OSU?

The 2024 MKSK Design Summit brought together our 11 studios across seven states and the District of Columbia, for a day of enriching discussions on planning and design. This year’s Design Summit was anchored by keynote speaker Sarah Lagrotteria, head educator at Just Bloom School at the Columbus Museum of Art. Sarah shared ideas of story-based creativity and opened our minds to new ways of improving our professional lives. MKSK Principal Brett Weidl, PLA, LEED AP, Senior Associate Luis Calvo, AICP, Associate Principal Kyle May, AICP , Associate Sarah Lilly, AICP, and Designer Richard Mills shared about the origins of discontent and working with clients and other groups to ensure a project will be successful. Lastly, we heard from featured speaker Kristi Cheramie, Associate Professor and head of Landscape Architecture at Knowlton School at The Ohio State University. She and her colleagues led a series of activities centered around the Midwest Landscape Lab (MidLL), a research and teaching initiative focused on the ecological, material and cultural histories that shape the Midwest, and how this work applies to our practice. #MKSK?#ShapePlace?#PlacesforPeople?#LandscapeArchitecture?#UrbanDesign?#Planning?#DesignSummit2024?#ASLA?#APA?#ULI?#DesignSummit?#ColumbusOhio?#ColumbusArtMuseum

MKSK is celebrating this back-to-school season by featuring one of our favorite projects: the Garrison Elementary School in Washington, D.C.’s Shaw neighborhood! This school modernization project includes a series of lively recreation and social spaces for a growing community, provides a unique setting for youth to learn environmental education and stewardship, while honoring the site’s historic legacy. Because the school occupies a location on which significant historic events have taken place, MKSK worked with the community and the school design team to craft a strategy the celebrates the history of Camp Barker, one of many “contraband camps” that were constructed to house formerly enslaved persons, many of whom were eventually recruited as soldiers by the Union Army. One of the design’s most prominent features is a unique outdoor classroom furnished with reclaimed wood seating elements (made in the city’s “Urban Lumber Mill”) that commemorates a location where Abraham Lincoln is said to have attended services with formerly enslaved people. The history story of the schoolyard is further revealed through a series of carefully located sculptures, crafted by local and regional artists, that interpret key aspects of its legacy while enlivening the day-to-day lives of students and faculty. #MKSK #ShapePlace #PlacesforPeople #UrbanPlanning #LandscapeArchitecture #ULI #APA #BacktoSchool

Rally in the Alley 2024! Thank you to everyone that attended our annual Rally in the Alley client appreciation event in Columbus, Ohio and made the evening extra special! We had a wonderful evening celebrating with our clients, colleagues, and allied professionals. Thank you to our sponsors: Landscape Forms Midstates Recreation Spruce & Gander, Inc. Border Concepts, Inc Environmental Management, Inc.. Carlsbad Manufacturing Corporation Hamilton Parker Services Supply LTD Unilock #MKSK #ShapePlace #PlacesforPeople #LandscapeArchitecture #UrbanDesign #Planning #Design #ASLA #APA #ULI #RallyintheAlley #MKSKRally

Join Aaron Kowalski, Associate Principal, Planner, MKSK and Sherri Ziller, President and CEO of the Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA) and one of Indiana’s 250 Most Influential Leaders, for ‘Discover the Future of Transit-Oriented Development’, on Wednesday, August 21st, as part of ULI Indiana’s Breakfast series. The session will share valuable insights on how communities in Northwest Indiana are thriving through the integration of transportation and land use to enhance mobility and job accessibility. This approach is laying the groundwork for robust economic growth, environmental sustainability, and community resilience. Learn more about this session and to register, visit: https://lnkd.in/gk78qGxa #ULI #ULIIndiana #MKSK #RDA #NorthwestIndianaRegionalDevelopmentAuthority #TOD #ShapePlace #APA