Creighton University Pedestrian Mall Enters Final Construction Phase

Denver-based studioINSITE prepared the master plan for Creighton University’s mall redevelopment, which will join the east and west boundaries of the campus.

Photo courtesy of studioINSITE

The end of summer will mark the completion of a major chapter in the ongoing renovation of Creighton University in downtown Omaha. The five-phased California Street Pedestrian Mall Redevelopment is six city blocks long and includes $7.25 million in site improvements.

The pedestrian mall serves as the campus’ primary pedestrian artery and is an integral component of the 2003 master plan prepared by Denver-based campus planning/urban design/landscape architecture firm studioINSITE. Following design guidelines set forth in the master plan, the improved design incorporates such elements as brick pavers, seat walls, landscaping, lighting and signage design. Like phases one and two, the subsequent phases of the mall’s redevelopment maintain the corridor’s character and animation.

StudioINSITE picked up concurrent 2005 Architectural Portfolio Awards from American School & University for its Creighton University Master Plan and California Street Pedestrian Mall Redevelopment, phases one and two. “studioINSITE did a great job of taking dead space and making it animated and dynamic,” said the 2005 jury of the AS&U Architectural Portfolio competition. The pedestrian mall was also honored with a 2007 Merit Award for Design from the American Society of Landscape Architects Colorado Chapter.

The vision for redevelopment of the mall includes two additional blocks. Once complete, the redevelopment will extend eight continuous blocks, joining the east and west boundaries of the campus.