Team members Kimberly Michaels, RLA, and Declan Keane were in Syracuse, NY, on Friday, July 21, 2023 as New York State Governor Kathy Hochul joined Majority Leader Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, Senior Advisor Landrieu, and State and Local Officials to officially break ground on the I-81 Viaduct Project in Syracuse, New York.

Our LA Studio was the project landscape architect for phases I-IV of this transformational project. Our role included leading the design efforts related to landscape architecture and streetscape improvements that incorporate complete streets principles by accommodating all roadway users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, automobiles, and transit.

We also served as one of the key community outreach facilitators. Over a 10-year duration, our team actively participated in public open houses, neighborhood meetings, and stakeholder engagements to engage the public. We assembled an expansive portfolio of project graphics and visualizations to facilitate public engagement, maximize public understanding, and garner public enthusiasm and support for the project.

The regional scope of the project includes ongoing public engagement across downtown Syracuse neighborhoods and suburban communities, where participants held diverse opinions on the project. Our team is adept at professionally communicating project facts to the public and conveying community concerns back to the project engineering and client teams. In partner with NYSDOT and FHWA, we have engaged with stakeholders across the region, and look forward to continuing that process throughout the coming months.

We are proud to be part of this significant project and enjoy seeing it come to life. Learn more about the project here.