What's New?

Stream Mitigation & Monitoring

Not only do we get to plan and design cool built environments like streetscapes, trails, and recreational fields, but also natural environments such as wetlands, prairies and streams. Each year from spring to fall you are apt to find us out in the field inspecting sites, delineating natural environments for upcoming projects, as well as monitoring compensatory mitigation areas.

The photo to the left is a stream mitigation site located in Clinton County, Iowa that we designed to compensate for impact to an existing stream. We are now in the 3rd year of our monitoring of the stream; it is part of a 5-year environmental monitoring requirement by permitting agencies. In year 2 we were already seeing natural pools, and stream braiding develop as well as the establishment of pioneer native species which included those that were seeded as well as some that were volunteer. We are looking forward to see how it looks this year.

Keokuk Industrial Park

Keokuk, Iowa - We are excited to be part of the design team headed by Impact 7G that was selected to work on the site planning for the redevelopment of a brownfield site into a regional industrial park. FLAC is responsible for developing the concept plans that are intended to offer both industrial and commercial lots, along with incorporating green infrastructure, solar lighting, a public bike trail and open space area, protection of environmental sensitive areas, a solar farm, as well as industrial art/sculptures.

Maquoketa Platt Street

Flenker Land Architecture Consultants, LLC was part of the design team for the 2-mile Platt Street streetscape during 2019-2020 which includes reconstruction of Platt St., following a complete streets approach. The improvements include gateways, decorative pavement accents, accent plantings, sidewalks that are ADA compliant and a bike path. FLAC is now part of the construction engineering inspection team. FLAC personnel can be seen out at the construction site each week as they perform the weekly Storm Water and Erosion Control Inspections and complete the required reporting throughout the anticipated 2-year construction period.

2021 Iowa's Living Roadways Community Visioning

FLAC is excited to be working this year with the Iowa communities of Calamus, Wheatland and Princeton as one of the private sector Landscape Architects for the award winning Iowa's Living Roadways Community Visioning Program.

This program is funded by the Iowa Department of Transportation and the program partners include the Iowa Department of Transportation, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Community and Economic Development Program, and Trees Forever.
To find out more about this unique collaborative program that is making a profound impact in improving Iowa's rural communities please visit the ILR website at: www.communityvisioning.org

Adapting during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Like for everyone, the Covid-19 Pandemic created some hurdles for conducting business the "traditional" way. Flenker Land Architecture Consultants, LLC rose to this challenge by adjusting our business model. FLAC invested in additional technology and the software necessary to allow our staff to safely work remotely while still being able to communicate and collaborate easily with each other and our clients. Zoom and Microsoft Teams became the platform of choice for our meetings, and while there was a learning curve at the start it soon became as second nature as attending a regular meeting in person. We want to thank all of our Clients for their past and continued patience, adaptability and willingness to try new platforms . Here's looking to a great 2021!

Lost Nation, Iowa Community Visioning Plan - 2020

In 2020, FLAC had the opportunity to work with the Lost Nation community in developing their vision for transportation related improvements throughout their community. Some of the goals identified by the citizens included: paving the existing trail, extending the recreational trail system, improving the lighting within the community, improving the vehicular and pedestrian connectivity and accessibility, providing more recreational opportunities for all age groups, and attracting more businesses and visitors to the downtown. Below are some of the concepts boards developed. Click on the following link to view all of the boards Documents – Lost Nation (communityvisioning.org)

Recreational Trail - Preston, Iowa

Flenker Land Architecture Consultants, LLC. was retained by the City of Preston, Iowa to prepare the preliminary and final design and construction documents for a recreational trail and the associated site amenities in West Side Park. FLAC had initially developed a master concept plan for West Side Park (which included a recreational trail) in 2014 when FLAC worked with Preston through the Iowa DOT & Iowa State University's "Iowa's Living Roadways Community Visioning" Program.

The 0.30 mile concrete trail is being funded in part through various grant sources including Wellmark and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The trail will include pedestrian lighting, bike racks and benches on concrete pads, decorative concrete plaza, ADA compliant parking area, and planting areas bordered by concrete mowing edges, all to enhance safety, aesthetics, and maintenance.

Construction Inspection - Lee and Wapello Counties, Iowa

Flenker Land Architecture Consultants, LLC has been busy performing construction inspections for several highway planting projects along Highway US 218 south of Mt. Pleasant in Lee County and Highways US 34/US 63 in Ottumwa in Wapello County. Together, these planting projects have included the removal and replacement of 395 Trees and 3,626 shrubs, as well as the associated seeding, mowing, and roadside spraying and maintenance activities..

I-80 Corridor Tree Tagging and Design Plans

FLAC served as the project landscape architect responsible for field evaluation of all the trees and shrubs along the approximately 14-mile segment of the I-80 corridor and the associated interchanges and south rest area from the NW Blvd. /Hwy. 130 interchange in Davenport, Iowa to the I-80 bridge in LeClaire, Iowa. Work included evaluation, identification, field tagging, measuring and recording each size of tree and shrub that was to be removed and the size of limbs to be pruned as well as the limbs and trunks to be removed

After field work was complete, FLAC prepared the construction plans which identified the fieldwork to be completed by the contractors along with the size and location of work to be done. FLAC's design work also entailed the design of a gateway landscape plan for the I-80 entrance to Iowa which utilized a native plant palate that provides year round interest and is tolerant of the poor soil and harsh interstate environmental conditions.

The project plans and specifications, as well as field data recording were done in accordance with procedures set forth by the Iowa DOT. The submittals followed the IDOT project schedule and it was let through the IDOT state bid letting. The Iowa Department of Transportation was FLAC's client.

Erosion and Storm Water Pollution Inspections & Reporting - Dubuque, Iowa

Flenker Land Architecture Consultants, LLC was part of the engineering inspection team for the new bridge on English Mill Road and the new bridge construction on Military Road that are part of the Southwest Arterial Bypass project. FLAC was responsible for providing the weekly Storm Water and Erosion Control Inspections and completing the required reporting throughout the construction period.