ISU students refine, present design ideas for DMACC Campus

AMES — The wheels were turning for many Newton community leaders Friday as they listened and observed revised concepts for how the buildings and green space between the DMACC Campus and the former Maytag Corporate Campus could be effectively utilized.

This time, in Ames, a handful of Iowa State University landscape architecture program students pitched their design ideas to Newton leaders after making improvements from the first round, which was held in Newton.

As a class project, students enrolled in both undergraduate and graduate-level courses, made a recent visit to examine what has become a larger DMACC campus — the active DMACC main classroom building and the Career Academy, the seven Maytag corporate buildings and the green space in between them.

Newton residents separated into groups then rotating to listen to individual presentations and put forth questions.

ISU assistant professor Caroline Westort said after the first draft, students took the community’s feedback and had two weeks to modify their work.

“The students were assigned to write a paper about the changes they implemented,” Westort said. “Their ideas are only becoming better and more complex.”

Natalie Jensen, a design student, pitched her ideas of plaza seating with a roof, a bike path that connects to downtown Newton and its parks.

“These will provide easy access and opens a lot more opportunities, such as, food trucks,” Jensen said. “The possibilities are endless.”

Jensen’s bike plan design mapped out Newton’s parks. The bike trail would reach local parks such as Maytag Park and Agnes Patterson Park.

The feedback from the group of six locals was positive, as they were intrigued with the bike path idea.

Another student’s designs included a focus on economic growth and an initiative called Smart Street, which would work to widen sidewalks for pedestrians and bikers.

These designs were presented by Bri Holden.

“When I visited Newton and DMACC I learned about the importance of art and sculptures,” Holden said.

Holden said the campus courtyard would feature sculptures from local artists and would rotate out after they were sold. Other ideas Holen pitched included student lofts, restaurants and pubs, splash pads and new lighting in the art studio.

There is no fee charged for the work, and the City of Newton only reimburses ISU about $500 for expenses. A final book of designs will be submitted, and DMACC or the city can then utilize those designs at any point but is under no obligation to do so.

Tanya Michener, of the Newton Development Corporation, said she is looking for designs that will add to the Newton community as a whole.

“I liked a certain student’s idea about combining education, the community and entrepreneurship,” Michener said.

Newton Development Corporation Executive Director Frank Liebl was also among the community leaders who attended the second presentations Friday.

“We were all really impressed,” Liebl said. “I think our long-term goal is to connect this campus and green space with the community.”

Liebl said the next step is to continue to meet with the city.

“There is a lot that goes into this,” he said. “This is just step one.”

Contact Kayla Langmaid at 641-792-3121 ext. 6513 or klangmaid@newtondailynews.com.