Over the next several months, Blueprint South Dakota will spotlight each of 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.
Cherapa Place Development
The basics
Firm: I & S Group, Inc. (ISG)
Client: Pendar Properties
Category: Master Planning & Community
Location: Sioux Falls, S.D.
The story
Cherapa Place is more than a redevelopment. It is a reinvestment in community, connectivity, and quality of life in downtown Sioux Falls. The project transformed a seven-acre surface parking lot into a dynamic, mixed-use district that reconnects people to the Big Sioux River and surrounding community. This bold vision tackled a key urban challenge: how to revitalize underutilized land while honoring the City’s history and elevating its future.
Through close collaboration with public and private partners, the design team uncovered hidden opportunities. By integrating stormwater detention underground, the site remains fully pedestrian-focused and free of traditional basins, preserving both ecological function and urban experience. The master plan strategically introduced four new buildings, woven together with a central plaza, shared streetscape, and below- and above-ground connections that ensure seamless, year-round access.
Cherapa Place blends innovative design, ecological responsiveness, and public connectivity to set a new standard for inclusive, high-impact urban development in the region. The central plaza is the heart of Cherapa Place—an inviting, green public space crafted to encourage community interaction, adaptable programming, and year-round activity. Its pedestrian-friendly design seamlessly connects to the surrounding downtown, creating a vibrant, accessible hub. Designed by I & S Group, Inc. (ISG) for Pendar Properties. Photo credit: ISG.
From the material palette to the site layout, every design element prioritizes human experience. The public plaza invites interaction, the river trail connections promote wellness, and the cohesive streetscape encourages walkability. Form and function converge to create a place that feels intentional and inclusive.
Cherapa Place not only addressed infrastructure and land use challenges, but also became a catalyst for broader East Bank revitalization. It proves that architecture can spark momentum, bridging gaps between neighborhoods, elevating the public realm, and shaping a space that works better for everyone.
Two multifamily buildings frame a central green plaza. Pedestrian paths, seating areas, and layered landscaping create a walkable environment that reconnects the East Bank to downtown. Designed by I & S Group, Inc. (ISG) for Pendar Properties. Photo credit: ISG.
More projects in the series
Click to view a video of all 22 entries in the 2025 AIA South Dakota Design Awards.
Author: AIA South Dakota
AIA South Dakota is the professional non-profit membership association of architects, future architects, and partners in the building and design industries, and the state chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) AIA South Dakota advances the mission that design matters in every South Dakota community.
