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Grand Rapids, Michigan20173,000 square feet

Airport Viewing Park

Disciplines
Airport Viewing Park

Airport Viewing Park

Grand Rapids, Michigan20173,000 square feet

The Airport Viewing Park lies on open land opposite Gerald R. Ford International Airport’s main runways and main terminal building. The park incorporates broad views of the horizon, runways, and terminal - perfect for viewing landings and take-offs.

Overview

Despite limited capacity (57 parking spaces), and amenities (a lone portable toilet, deteriorating picnic tables, inadequate trash receptacles, and no shade), the existing park was one of the most popular park destinations in the county. Demand for additional parking, permanent toilet facilities, upgraded picnic sites, and common sheltered areas formed the functional core of this project. Creating a renewed public place that welcomes, inspires, informs, and engages formed the aspirational core. Our design incorporates double canopy roof forms that invoke the feeling of ascending in an airplane. The roof lines imagine the trajectory of flight with a simple structure that accents the powerful horizon, site topography, and open sky. The wood-clad sloping roof planes create a sense of openness, enclosure, warmth, and human-scale. The renewed park doubles the parking capacity, including spaces for buses and food trucks. Permanent toilets and shelter structures share a central location on the expanded site. All features are barrier-free, including new picnic tables, benches, and trash receptacles - custom designed and locally fabricated for this project.

Photographer

Jason Keen

Builder

Owen Ames Kimball

Mathison Gerald R Ford International Airport Viewing Park
Gerald R Ford International Airport Viewing Park
Airport Viewing Park
Airport Viewing Park
Airport Viewing Park
Gerald R Ford International Airport Viewing Park
Gerald R Ford International Viewing Park
AVP 3
Process

Airport Viewing Park
Airport Viewing Park Site Plan Sketch
Airport Viewing Park
Airport Viewing Park
airport site plan
Recognition
AIA Grand Rapids

Honor Award, Small Commercial Building, 2019

The Golf Explorer Magazine

2019

AIA Michigan

Honor Award, 2018

Great Lakes by Design

"Placemaking", 2018

Archilovers

Featured Project, 2018

West Michigan Design Week

2017