ReBuild Joplin Studio

Rebuild Joplin: This photo was given an honorable mention in the 2011 Kansas State University College of Architecture, Planning & Design Photography Competition.

In the fall semester of 2011 UMKC’s Department of Architecture Urban Planning + Design launched the Rebuild Joplin Studio. The senior students enrolled in our capstone Urban Planning studio worked on a visioning plan for Joplin, MO and the surrounding four counties in the Harry S. Truman Coordinating Council area in the wake of the devastating tornado that touched down in their community on May 22, 2011. The EF-5 tornado forced an opportunity to create a new and improved community in memory of all that was lost. Apart of that opportunity was creating a new vision of the region that balances the immediate needs of those directly impacted and the long term prosperity of the community as a whole.

 

AUP+D’s Rebuild Joplin Studio performed preliminary research on regional trends and an analysis of demographic, economic, and social data, conducted a site survey of the region, and held several stakeholder meetings in Joplin. Using the knowledge gained from the research and analysis the students developed three redevelopment alternatives as a way to illustrate potential long-range outcomes in the region. On October 14-15, the students presented during the Citizen Advisory Recovery Team sponsored and American Institute of Architects hosted design charrette in Joplin. Many of the background materials, base maps, and demographic analysis provided to each of the four design groups in the charrette were developed by UMKC. The Rebuild Joplin Studio proved to be a profound benefit to the overall design process. The students gave a presentation on their background analysis to the assembled design professionals, and a second presentation directly to the CART regarding their redevelopment alternatives. The Rebuild Joplin Studio’s focus on revitalizing downtown, focusing development along the Main Street corridor, and creating a memorial boulevard that loosely follows the path of destruction with mixed-use, walkable, and local serving commercial nodes were all supported.

The students worked with elected officials, decision-makers, other academic institutions and the broader community to assist the recovery efforts through research and analysis that would lead to a new model of development in the region with the ultimate goal of rebuilding a more coherent, vibrant and sustainable Joplin of the future.