Project Name:  David Street Station

Location:  Casper, Wyoming

Size:  46,787 square feet (site)

Completed:  2018

The product of a shared vision of City, Downtown Development Authority and Old Yellowstone (redevelopment) District, David Street Station is an outdoor events driven plaza conceived as a public-private partnership to support the ongoing revitalization efforts of a city center as a vibrant place to live, work and play.

The project is sited at the junction that marries the downtown with the Old Yellowstone District, a former industrial area that has recently been rezoned with a form-based zoning code to spawn redevelopment.  The plaza is aptly named for this juncture, David Street, and for a prominent adjacent historic fire station structure – now an office building.  The orientation of the street grid of downtown and that of the Old Yellowstone District are askew from each other, and so too is the grid of the plaza – a purposeful departure that allows the plaza true independence from the two sometimes adversarial districts that compete for City resources – but who have joined to realize this project.  The locale includes an emerging arts district with a future adjacent civic auditorium, movie theaters, and budding redevelopment projects including loft style living, art galleries, shops and office spaces and the area has become the hub of the recently implemented First Thursday Art Walk and other events and activities including car shows, Rock the Block, Oktoberfest, music festivals, etc.

Patterned from other successful regional event plazas, it was carefully planned to repeat successes while avoiding shortcomings.  This year-round multi-activity outdoor event plaza for use by all age groups has planned activities and un-programmed spaces to meet every need.  Social interaction, access, comfort and use are core concepts along with outward appearance while carefully planned infrastructure ensures smooth operations.

The look carefully takes into account the character, culture, built environment, history, and outdoor environments of the City and region and encompasses three main inspirations: a long history with energy related industry, a core identity as the heart of the American West, and proximity to abundant natural beauty.  The programming emphasizes “things to do” in a region focused on outdoor activity, and is reflected in the built structures.   

Three main entry gateways are arranged at the prominent corners of the plaza while several smaller paths also provide pedestrian entry, allowing visitors to approach from nearly every direction and provide glimpses into the plaza from the streets.  Treed berms mediate the space between the adjacent streets along with a variety of plantings in evergreen and deciduous species to provide maximum wind protection in the harsh climate and to provide seasonal color change that invokes the feeling of the nearby mountain landscape.  A future wind wall sculpture is planned for the concert lawn that will reduce wind impact further and provide a backdrop for concerts and events.  Careful coordination and planning with the City and emergency responders identified adjacent streets appropriate for intermittent temporary closure to allow for expansion of the plaza for larger events and festivals. 

The plaza grid sets the tone and plays upon sun angles and wind in response to the needs of patrons, and is reinforced with string-light covered promenades that internalize the circulation and provides effortless way finding.  String light power is shared with vendor tents that line the promenades.  Two main activity areas are mediated by the promenade - covered performance stage with terraced concert lawn on one side and ice rink (in winter) with splash pad (in summer) on the other.  Orientation of the concert lawn and ice rink/splash pad sides of the plaza takes advantage of spring and fall solar gain but keeps the evening sun out of the eyes of both concert goers and the performers. 

The support facility for tickets, restrooms and maintenance occupies a locale near the main crossroads of the promenade for convenience of facilities and assists with wind uplift for the ice rink and splash pad.  A trellised overlook deck on the rooftop allows panoramic views of the plaza and the Old Yellowstone District and a V.I.P. area for major events.  A glass enclosed stair that leads to the overlook deck serves as a beacon lantern in the evening hours.  Durable board formed concrete provides the base for all structures while graduating upward to rusted corten metal siding above, reminiscent of the industrial history of the district, the City and region.  Entry gateway structures are inspired by ranch entries and clad with rough timber, concrete and steel materials to echo a western look with a nod to industry while built-in space for billowing banners heralds events and sponsors.  Reclaimed weathered wood is used as guardrail, stage backdrop and screening devices to complete the look.   

Oriented on axis with the adjacent main street intersection and the alley-walk to the parking structure, the splash pad offers dramatic views of the water spray during the summer and of the City holiday tree that occupies the space in the winter - reinforcing the heart of the community.  The holiday tree forms an island within the skate rink and provides the illusion of skating on a pond while fire rings made from locally salvaged rock cone crushers provide hand warming stations at the perimeter of the skating rink. 

Opportunities for serendipitous gathering areas are dispersed throughout the plaza with small benches, multi-level perching benches, arched benches around a year-round fire pit and other intimate areas while an oversized chess board doubles as a busking station for impromptu street performance.  During warm summer months, people will find sunny benches to have their coffee, quiet shaded places of respite from the busy work day for lunch and endless hours of fun playing in the splash pad. 

 Although still under construction, the announcement has already established the project as a catalyst for the ongoing transformation of the area and it has been featured in several newspaper articles and a City funded educational documentary entitled “Casper Spotlight:  The Downtown Development Authority” - made to teach about the projects design strategies.