Fostering a Livelier, Pedestrian-Friendly Downtown Streetscape

Bellevue Downtown Streetscape Design Guidelines | Bellevue, WA

Our firm worked with the City of Bellevue to develop the Downtown Streetscape Design Guidelines document, an urban tool kit for street enhancements. The goal was to offer design guidelines that foster a livelier, pedestrian-friendly, and active public environment.  Through collaboration with several City of Bellevue departments, we developed long-term solutions for both capital improvement and private development in the downtown core.  These solutions were informed by case study precedent projects from cities around the country. A specific pallet was developed for streets to celebrate distinct themes including commerce, retail, and entertainment. The final toolkit uses simulations, visualizations, and on-site planning to suggest active urban street elements for seating, sight furnishings, lighting, multi-modal transportation, gateways, art elements, way finding signage, water features, and planting.