Description

"Carr, Lynch Associates prepared a redevelopment plan and the final design for $16 million in public improvements for downtown Reno. The work included a pedestrian mall on Reno's main street, a civic center complex, a large specialty retail center, special lighting, and an urban park along the Truckee River. CLA also designed a series of pools and waterfalls along a block-long stretch of the river as it flows through the center of downtown. The cascades would establish the river as a highly visible and accessible part of the downtown. The project was successfully bid, but construction was blocked by the all-powerful casinos. Despite being consulted in the planning process, they did not want a public realm that might keep people out of the casinos for even a part of their Reno adventure."

Virginia Street: "Reno's main street, Virginia Street, was envisioned as a pedestrian space with patterned pavement, trees added for shade in seating areas, conditioned cafes projecting into the street, and offering views into the adjacent casinos. The glass and steel arches were planned to contain prisms which, in the early morning and evening, would cast rainbows on the street, but no guarantees for the pot of gold."

The River Room: "Carr, Lynch Associates developed a space programming study, schematic design, and market feasibility study for the renovation and re-use of Reno's old downtown post office. A unique mix of public and private uses, including shops, meeting spaces, restaurants, and a winter garden, were included in the proposal. The project awaits implementation as part of the firm's overall plan and public space design for downtown."