-
Title
-
Providence River Relocation
-
Description
-
2003 Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence - Silver Medal
The Providence River Relocation project in Rhode Island’s capital city redirected rivers, overhauled transit infrastructure, and created a new riverfront downtown. Thirty years in the making, the relocation of the Woonasquatucket and Moshassuck rivers, construction of a new rail station, highway interchanges, and twelve bridges restored historical links among Providence’s Capital Center, College Hill, and downtown. The project improved traffic flow in and through downtown and added pedestrian-friendly spaces, including 1.5 miles of river walks, along with a new urban park including a restaurant, amphitheater, fountain, and boat landing.
Redirecting the rivers created new, marketable commercial land without demolishing existing buildings in the downtown national register, resulting in over $1 billion in development. The project re-knit adjacent neighborhoods and created public arts and cultural programming that attracts locals and tourists alike to the river’s edge. With an emphasis on small urban spaces within the large-scale redevelopment, the project uses high-quality materials, and the design of the lighting, landscaping, street furniture, tree grates, signage, and historical interpretation panels all welcome the public.
-
Coverage
-
Providence, RI
-
Date
-
2002
-
Subject
-
waterfronts
-
urban beautification
-
public spaces
-
parks
-
public art
-
public transit
-
historic districts
-
environmental planning
-
brownfield remediation
-
traffic calming
-
transit-oriented development
-
Contributor
-
Providence Department of Planning & Development
-
Contributor
-
en
Public Agency
-
Rhode Island Department of Transportation
-
Contributor
-
en
Public Agency
-
Federal Highway Administration
-
Contributor
-
en
Public Agency
-
Providence Parks Department
-
Contributor
-
en
Public Agency
-
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
-
Contributor
-
en
Public Agency
-
William D. Warner Architects & Planners
-
WaterFire Providence
-
Contributor
-
en
Community Group
-
Corporate Services, Inc.
-
Contributor
-
en
Professional Consultant
-
Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission
-
Contributor
-
en
Community Group
-
Rhode Island School of Design
-
Contributor
-
en
Community Group
-
Providence Foundation
-
Contributor
-
en
Community Group
-
CapitolArts Providence
-
Contributor
-
en
Community Group
-
Rights
-
This digital collection is made available for research and educational purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining copyright status, and securing permissions for use and publication of any material. Copyright for items in this collection may be held by the creators, their heirs, or assigns. Researchers are required to obtain written permission from copyright holders and the University Archives prior to reproducing or publishing materials, including images and quotations. For inquiries about reproduction requests and permissions, please contact the University Archives at: http://library.buffalo.edu/archives/.
Providence River Relocation application
Providence River Relocation case study