Grand Avenue at the USU Innovation Campus

"In 2005, Utah State University had the privilege of working with Landmark Design for the centerpiece roadway of Innovation Campus, which is called Grand Avenue.  The Grand Avenue was master planned to be a functional roadway as well as a pedestrian friendly walkway and a landscape highlight for the research park campus.  The roadway was also to have an innovative water feature to draw the interest of the campus tenants as well as the public, and which conserved the water used in it.  Due to the nature of the project, many high expectations were held for it at both Innovation Campus and the USU campus proper.  A vigorous search and selection of the landscape architect followed in which we were introduced to Jan Striefel and Mark Vlasic of Landmark Design.  We found them to be innovative, knowledgeable and very personally interested in our project.  Because of those qualities and others, they were selected for the project.

Throughout design and construction, we found Landmark Design to be very professional, responsive, and capable in meeting every task of creating the roadway that we all envisioned.  The Grand Avenue today is a functional pleasure to see and exceeds our expectations.  We highly recommend their services and expertise."

Quin E. Whitaker, P.E., Structural Engineer/Project Manager
Utah State University Facilities Planning, Design, and Construction

Landmark Design was selected by the Utah State University Innovation Campus and Stanley Consultants, Inc. to assist in the design of Grand Avenue, a high-profile boulevard for the research park located in North Logan, Utah. The project includes a 100-foot wide street that extends through the campus for approximately 2000 feet. Landmark Design was responsible for designing the entire median and streetscape, and preparing construction documents for the first 1,300-foot segment.

Grand Avenue is intentionally designed to represent “innovation” through the use of cutting-edge city-building, place-making and sustainability ideas. The high-profile roadway incorporates unique drainage features, a wide pedestrian median promenade, and special materials and site features to reduce the perception that the road is primarily a place for vehicles.

A 24-foot wide pedestrian promenade is located in the center of the street, incorporating a “canal” that conveys irrigation water through the site. The canal is punctuated by large blocks of stone and concrete, providing places for people to play, sit and gather. Other design features include unique lighting, lush plantings of trees and plants, stone and metal bollards at crossings and raised crosswalks.

In the course of developing the park concept, Landmark Design consulted with a Steering Committee composed of representatives of Innovation Campus, USU construction and maintenance staff, Logan City, the City of North Logan, Stanley Consultants and others. The input of these players served to inform the design team about various issues and desires relating to the street, and resulted in a design that was well-embraced.