Alexis Banks
Landscape Architecture
Portfolio
Iowa State University
BLA
2019-2022
About Me My name is Alexis Banks and I am a third year student studying Landscape Architecture at Iowa State University. Active member in Iowa Students of Landscape Architecture as a fundraiser chair, College of Design Representative, and social media participation. I enjoy working with others and value other viewpoints. I like to focus on improving communities with resources, outdoor activities, and recreational spaces. I am organized, creative, and determined to create spaces that bring people together.
Personal Info. Name: Alexis Banks Phone: (563)-451-8973 Hometown: Dyersville, Iowa Current: Ames, Iowa Email: Personal: lexi.j.banks@gmail.com School: ajbanks@iastate.edu
Work Experience
Program Experience
Related
Arc GIS
Microsoft
Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning
Indesign
Sketch Up
Photoshop
Teamwork
Illustrator
Leadership
AutoCad
Customer Service
Design Intern August 2021- Present
Country landscapes Inc. Key Holder, Nursery March 2021-Present
Straka Johnson Architects
School to Work- Job Shadow August 2018 – January 2019
Machinery Skid Loader
References Emily Meader Country Landscapes Inc. Nursery Manager P: (515) 232-6864 E: emeader@countrylandscapes.com Chad Hunter Iowa State University Studio Manager Iowa Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning P: (515) 735-6042 E: cahunter@iastate.edu
01 City of Dreams Continuity, Community, & Conservation
Overview
02 Urban Nexus Downtown Connection and Revitalization
03 Park(ing) Day Design and Build
04 King Pavilion Threshold Modeling, Connection, and Accessibility
A City of Dreams
Group Members: Jaelyn Waddle, Gabriel Phillips, Ian Juskiv, Peter Graham
Dyersville, Iowa
Dyersville, Iowa Dyersville, Iowa is located on State Highway 20 on the western edge of Dubuque county. The community is commonly known as the movie site for The Field of Dreams, and the Basilica of Saint Francis Xavier. As a community, athletics and outdoor recreation are popular for all ages. Throughout town are many soccer fields and baseball/softball diamonds. These recreation areas also bring great attraction from other communities. A newly added trail connection from West side Park to Candy Cane park has became a hit in the community while tournaments and games were going on. In 2020, Dyersville was one of the many small communities affected by COVID-19 with the closing of their main restaurant off of Highway 20, The Country Junction. Since then, the community has been in need of more restaurants, stores, and other attractions. These attractions are also needed because of the continuing of the MLB games at the Field of Dreams movie site. The first MLB game brought in 8,000 visitors and fans, twice the amount of the population. This was great publicity to Dyersville. Although, with the lack of attractions and amenities tourists and visitors traveled 30 minutes to the larger town of Dubuque, located along the Mississippi River. This created a loss of business for the community. Located on the North side of town is a cornfield that has great potential for business growth for Dyersville. It is located perpendicular to the main road to the Field of Dreams movie site. This would create a visual interest for the visitors and fans going to the game. Although the site sits in the floodplain along the North Fork Maquoketa River, the potential for interactive water features and mitigation control could create more than a business attraction, but an natural attraction.
Existing Site Conditions
Roads Residential Areas Water Floodplain Map Floodplain Map by Jaelyn Waddle
Importance of Trails
See more of in Dyersville
Activities like to do
Infrastructure Come to Dyersville
Enjoy Going To in and Out of Dyersville
A Facebook survey was done with Google Forms and shared with locals in the Dyersville Area. The total number of responses was 33. To the side are the results.
Important
Arcade, Shops, Outdoor Dining
Hanging with Friends and Family
Restaurants
Restaurants
Master Plan
Gabriel Phillips: Chip and Putt Course Arcade and Retention Pond: Jaelyn Waddle Amphitheater: Ian Juskiv Existing Businesses: Peter Graham
Ray Park
Master Plan Rendering: Lexi Banks
Ray Park is an attraction for all ages. Toddler interactive features such as mounds, water play, and logs allow children to learn about nature at an early age. Teenage attractions such as arcade, Chip and Putt, and Go Karts provide fun and interactive places for teens to meet new people and enjoy activities close to home instead of driving 30 minutes to other cities. Bars and outdoor entertainment allow adults to enjoy a night out while staying close to home. When winter comes, all ages can enjoy ice skating on the retention pond. Ice skates are available to rent out for a day at the equipment building. As well as other outdoor activity equipment. Nearby residents also can enjoy trails right in their backyard. Ray park is also an attraction to those who are not local. As the Field of Dreams MLB games continue and little league games follow, nonlocals travel into Dyersville to attend their activity, but leave shortly after because of little interest to explore. Ray Park includes a hotel that is oriented in the direction of the park for these visitors to see and want to explore. This will bring business to local businesses, as well have be a future revisit for those who experienced the amenities.
0
Infrastructure to Come Restaurants
80 160
320
480
800
See More of Arcade, Shops, Outdoor Dining
Detention Basin: Allows flood water to flow through and create a view and interaction within the landscape. People can still enjoy walks on the paths even after a heavy rain.
Retention Pond: The sun at the center with its rays going outward to the variety of activities. The pond brings great outdoor activities even as the seasons change. Fishing in the summer or ice skating in the winter time with family and friends.
Retention Pond:
Brings property values to the residence in the area with a walking path in their backyard. All existing buildings.
Hotel Plan The proposed hotel is oriented towards the retention pond to the northwest. The location of the hotel is an eye catcher to those who take 3rd ave to their homes, or out to the field of dreams. The site is out of the 100 and 500-year floodplain which allows for year-round use and no worries with flooding.
The main entrance to the hotel is on 3rd ave, but there is also an entrance to the south to limit congestion on the main road. Proposed crosswalks on Highway 136 provide an access to the proposed district. A retention pond in front of the hotel allows a beautiful entrance as well as a rain water collection as the grading slopes towards it, preventing sitting water on the site. Vegetation in the parking lot and through the site provide shade and privacy for those staying at the hotel. Prairie plantings create a buffer from the road as well as a experience on the way to the Heritage Trail. Those staying in the hotel have access to an outdoor pool, outdoor dining with a restaurant, and a small natural nook where children can experience nature at a smaller scale. The Heritage Trail connects Dyersville to Dubuque spanning 26-miles. This major trail is used by many actives. A bike rental is connected to the hotel for hotel guests to have access from inside, but the rental is also accessible from the northeast parking lot. This allows anyone to have access to renting a bike. The Heritage Trail begins in Dyersville and passes through Farley, Epworth, Graff, Durango, and ends in Dubuque. By working with the surrounding communities, bike rental stations could be placed within those towns to allow a broader connection where more people can enjoy the trail.
Details
Hotel Grading Plan Dyersville, Iowa
957
Alexis Banks
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Parking Lot
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Parking Island 6” curb
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Lumber Speacialties
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Proposed Contours
.5%
Beltline Road
Feet 0
20
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Existing Contours
Spot Elevation
Perspective of hotel entrance from Deutmeyer Auto Parking Lot
Detail Sections
Grading Plan
Urban Nexus
Des Moines, Iowa
Connections Build Relationships
Context Site Plan High Street
Downtown Des Moines is a central hub to the state of Iowa and consists of many restaurants, parks, businesses, and much more. Although downtown contains many separate attractions, the area is short on having somewhere where attractions connect and come together in one place. Krause Konnect is the hub where these different attractions can connect and attract more to the area with great architecture, landscape, activities and connections to the surrounding area.
Krause Gateway Center
e
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Project Site
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hS 17t
enue
Pappajohn Sculpture Park
t
d Av
Gran
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield
15th Street
To the Northwest of the newly built Krause Gateway Center is a future development opportunity. By creating connectivity throughout the three sites, there will be a sense of togetherness and the possibility of greater connection through Des Moines and surrounding cities.
14th Street
Future Development
Better Homes and Gardens Test Garden
The grid system connects more than Des Moines together. It also connects Iowa and surrounding states together. Grid systems follow the North-South and East-West direction. Although, in some cases, rivers and lakes can influence a change in direction of the grid system. In downtown Des Moines, this change in direction occurs because of the Des Moines River. This causes the grid system of the downtown area to follow not only North-South and East-West, but also an offset direction going Northeast-Southwest. This change in direction brings more connection to the area.
Studying the direction and flow of traffic helps understand how people are view the site and what they would be seeing first, not seeing, and what could happen to attract visually
High St. High St.
Programs oll
ers
14th St. oll
15th St.
Ingers
Ingersoll
. 16th St
Ave Grand
St.
Connections Crosswalks Pedestrian Bridges Vegetation Open space Gather Space Outdoor eating Site Lines Direction Commercial Building Grocery Store, Cafe, Bookstore, Ice cream • Hotel
17th
• • • • • • • • • • •
Ing
Surrounding Properties Flow and Direction of Traffic
Ave Grand
Approaching Views
Ave Grand
Locust
St.
Project Site Existing and Staying Buildings
Locust
St.
Site Plan
Krause Konnect
The site plan creates a connection with the future development to the north and the Krause Gateway Center to the east. The Krause Konnect has connective paths which allow access from any point on the block. The existing Jefferson is a low-income apartment and instead of taking it down and taking away a home to many, a remodel would allow the former glory of the Jefferson apartments as well as a safe environment for those who live in and out of the apartment. An allee of Eastern Redbuds create seasonal interest as well as a natural experience as someone walks through. The proposed new building is a connection to the Krause company for their other businesses to share a place. At the main entrance to the new building is a rain garden which allows stormwater to have a place to flow with the steep slopes along on the northwest edge. A relocation of the existing billboard would be created on the pedestrian sky walk (seen below). Lastly, a proposed prairie along the steep slopes to slow stormwater run-off as well as create more biodiversity within the landscape. Krause Konnect can create a fun and interactive space in downtown Des Moines. A growth in relationship with architecture and landscape can be created within the growing city.
1
2 Perspective view of pedestrian sky walk from the northwest sidewalk of Krause Gateway Center
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2
Park(ing) Day
Group Members: Juan Rodriguez, Delaney Giles, Amelia Allaway, Nona Gelow
Ames, Iowa
Chocolaterie Stam
The interior of Chocolaterie Stam holds charm, history, and a story with everything it holds. With the European feel important to the Ames owners, yellow and burgundy were the primary colors within the store. The most unique and historical piece to the interior was the exposed brick wall, discovered while renovating. Interior
Chocolaterie Stam has been a European family business since the 1800s. In November of 2006, the family business expanded to non-family members owning a location. This expansion started in Des Moines, Iowa, and has also expanded to Ames, Iowa. Much thought and care went into the Ames location. Available stores were open for the location of Stam, but what was special about the location of the Ames store was it was located on the south side. This was perfect in keeping chocolates and homemade gelato from melting.
Come Happy
Leave Happier
Materials
Behind the Scenes
• • • • • • •
Pallets (free) Stain Spray Paint Cinder Blocks (free) Faux Brick Plants (free) Thrifted Furniture
Budget: $500 donated by ASLA Pallets, cinder blocks, and plants borrowed from Country Landscapes
Model: Juan Rodriguez and Delaney Giles
King Pavilion Threshold
Ames, Iowa
King Pavilion Threshold
Proposed Grove
Outdoor Classroom
Existing Parking Lot
The current King Pavilion back entrance was disconnected from Iowa State’s College of Design. A re-connect is completed providing pedestrian and bicycle access to the existing building, improving the connection of the College of Design to the existing parking lots, and creating a “room” that serves students and faculty of the college. The design reflects the energy and creativity that flows throughout the College of Design, transforming the space into something more than a pedestrian corridor.
Visibility from lower King Pavilion Bike Rack
Project Site Ramp
Existing Trees King Pavilion
Existing Parking Lot Stairs
Materials: Cardboard: Turf Clay: Prairie and Vegetation
Chipboard: Hardscape
Sketch Models
Linear
Cluster
Grid
King Pavilion: Paper
Final Model
Different sculptures in the landscape represent the design fields within the college. Keeping the existing trees in the terrace outside the King Pavilion provides a shaded and calming space to sit. Proposed trees to the north provide privacy from the existing parking lot. Groves of trees provide shade and space to hammock and open lawn for activities and for laying down a blanket.