This month and next, Blueprint South Dakota will continue spotlighting the entries in the 2025 Design Awards competition. AIA South Dakota members again proved their creativity and problem-solving skills with beautifully functional work, on display in communities across South Dakota and beyond. Each installment in this series introduces readers to a different project, in the design team’s own words. As part of every entry form, AIA SD asked submitters to provide a “long description” that addressed the design intent and its progression. We invited submitters to go beyond the stats to show the value the project added for their client or community. In turn, they detailed the problems the project solved, told how their process made the most of hidden opportunities, and described the ways the design supports the client or community through form and function.
River Greenway Shelter
The basics
- Firm: CO-OP Architecture
- Client: City of Sioux Falls
- Category: Small Project
- Location: Sioux Falls, S.D.
The story
The western bank of Big Sioux River in Downtown Sioux Falls is having a moment. For years, the City has desired to clean up and beautify this side of the river, which has long lagged behind the east side with the exception of Fawick Park and areas near Raven. With the advent of the Levitt Band Shell and the redevelopment of Sioux Steel in recent years, the need for walkable and scenic pathways along the western bank of the river, especially near the Upper Falls, was higher than ever. The City and a local landscape architect teamed up to make it happen.
The River Greenway project has unfolded in phases as part of the Falls Park Master Plan. In the end, the Greenway will connect Sixth Street to Jacobson Plaza seamlessly. This third phase of the overall project made a big dent in that effort, creating a new edge from Sioux Steel to Jacobson.
The centerpiece of Phase 3 is a 2,400 SF open-air shelter designed by CO-OP Architecture. The structure sits squarely along the Big Sioux, with panoramic natural views north, south, and east. Beyond location and orientation, the project’s notable architectural move is the custom glass panels that cover the structure, providing semi-transparent shade, interest, and dimension to the site. A matching swing structure sits a stone’s throw north on the site, doing the same on a smaller scale.
Most important, the shelter and swing structures serve as places to pause. To enjoy a cup of morning coffee, read a book, finish a crossword, or catch up with a friend. They are stops along the way, available to anyone who has a moment. The design team believes these opportunities are critical to the success of any public area, especially when natural beauty is abundant. Projects like these are about the public good. Places like the River Greenway Shelter and surrounding site can be small sources of happiness, whether enjoyed alone or in good company.
More projects in the series
Click to view a video of all 22 entries in the 2025 AIA South Dakota Design Awards.
