Sasaki Selected to Develop Comprehensive Plan for Downtown Baton Rouge
A drone-shot of Downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 2021.
Sasaki has been selected by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF) and local civic leaders to lead Plan Baton Rouge III for the capital city of Louisiana. The comprehensive plan for downtown Baton Rouge builds upon two previous plans that were launched in 1998 and 2009 respectively.
Over the course of 12 months, the firm will meet with Baton Rouge community members to hear their desires and priorities, receive feedback on scenarios, and determine the best course of action to help Baton Rouge continue to thrive and grow.
Plan Baton Rouge I and II helped generate a cumulative $500 million in public investment and over $3 billion in private funding over two decades. These results are made visible in projects like the Shaw Center for the Arts, the park complex of the State Capitol, as well as several revitalized hotels and housing developments.
The third iteration will continue to expand on the work of enhancing Baton Rouge for residents and visitors alike by supporting the growth of local industries, celebrating the cultural life of the city, building new housing units, and improving the riverfront and other public spaces.
Baton Rouge at night from the Mississippi River. Photography by getmahesh / CC BY-SA 2.0
“Sasaki is thrilled to have been selected to lead the next evolution of Plan Baton Rouge,” says Josh Brooks, Sasaki Principal, Landscape Architecture & Planner and a Baton Rouge native. “The past two iterations of this plan have led to important changes in Downtown Baton Rouge’s job base, public realm, visitor experience, and cultural fabric. Sasaki is excited to work with the community, the various project partners, and our world-class consultant partners to craft a strategic vision for Downtown’s economic vitality and authentic character to better serve as both a regional destination and neighborhood on its own.”
A team of collaborators will be also engaged to support various aspects of the planning process. These firms include Franklin Associates (Engagement and Outreach), CSRS (Local Planning and Engineering), Vectura (Traffic), Trahan Architects (Architectural Advisor), and James Lima Planning + Development (Economic Development).
Other projects led by Sasaki in Baton Rouge include the ongoing master plan for Greenwood Community Park and Baton Rouge Zoo in north Baton Rouge and the restoration of University Lakes, as well as the Lincoln Beach Redevelopment Plan in nearby New Orleans.
Learn More About Sasaki
Sasaki has been a leader in the design industry for 70 years. The firm is known for blending disciplines, engaging with clients and communities, drawing on history and context, and using data and emerging technologies to shape the built environment. With offices in Boston, Denver, New York, Shanghai, and Los Angeles, Sasaki’s 300 professionals partner with education, civic, institutional, and commercial clients around the world. Sasaki’s integrated services span architecture, interior design, planning and urban design, space planning, landscape architecture, and civil engineering.
Contact:
Eric Baldwin, Director of Communications
Baton Rouge Aerial Photography by TheLionHasSeen / CC BY-SA 4.0