Text description provided by the architects. River’s Edge Pavilion blurs the edges between infrastructure, landscape and architecture through the sculpting of public space. Conceptualized as a ‘front porch’ for the revitalizing post-industrial riverfront development, the building acts as a continuation of the ribbon of the Bob Kerry pedestrian bridge that leads into the Tom Hanafan inter-state park trail system.

Plans

Section

Formally, the pavilion ‘folds’ out of the landscape, utilizing a monumental concrete stair to lead users up to the roofdeck while simultaneously providing an informal seating area for concerts and fireworks shows. In this way, the building itself acts as a transitory experience between active landscape and structured rest.

The Pavilion’s ‘L’-shaped massing establishes a parenthetical edge that embraces and activates the waterfront during both day and night. The interior contains spaces dedicated to community events, a public-use meeting room, public restrooms and a catering kitchen along with generous outdoor spaces and patios for events and community activities.

© Corey Gaffer Photography

• Architects

  Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture

• Location

  Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park; Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States

• Category

  Community Center

• Area

  3215.0 ft2

• Project Year

  2017

• Photographs

  Corey Gaffer Photography