Winona - Visual Quality Review Committee Meeting #3 Notes

Location: Tandeski Center, Southeast Technical College, Winona, MN Date and Time: 9/24/13, 1:00pm to 3:00 pm

Review of Meeting 2 Notes 1. A member asked, what is a mask wall? Mr. Jischke answered that it is the end of the pier cap that would visually hide the top of the pier where structural beams bear on. Mask walls are proposed smooth out the visual appearance at the transition piers where adjacent spans have different structural depths. 2. A member asked whether it would be possible to add features to the bridge that may help the bridge create an entrance feature for the City of Winona. For example: could the towers of cable stay bridge be mimicked? Mr. Jischke answered that vertical features could potentially be added, but not to that scale. The cultural significance of the existing historical bridge need to be considered. Mr. Frame added that a primary goal for the design of the new bridge is to not compete visually with the existing bridge. 3. A member commented that we want to preserve the visual significance of the existing bridge. Furthermore, the new and existing need to “speak the same language” so they are not visually competing with each other. a. Another member commented that she agrees with the comments, and that we want the new bridge to complement the existing bridge without competing with it. 4. A member commented that he appreciates the revised approach to the preparation of the notes from Meeting #2. 5. A member commented that it feels like we are progressing backwards. It feels like the railings and abutments are getting designed without knowing what the overall bridge is really going to look like. a. Another member commented that the process is really a back and forth process, and it is okay to come back to things. b. Mr. Jischke commented that it is our intent to build on things from previous meetings as we go along in the process. At the start we were looking from far away, and intentionally showed graphics without much detail. We are now looking closer at those details and filling them in. We were pretty clear from the start that certain engineering decisions had been made, or were pending final determination. Mr. Nelson commented that while the recommended bridge type is a box , the intent is for the VQRC to help guide the process as to how the smaller pieces and details fit together as a whole. Mr. Jischke said that this is why we are stepping back for VQRC Meeting #3 to examine the overall vision of the bridge as well as the important community values. c. Ms. Schultz commented that the design process is not finished. For instance, the railings we look at today may cause us to go back and evaluate the piers and other pieces that we talked about previously to see how it all fits together.

Winona Bridge Visual Quality Review Committee –Meeting #3 Notes pg. 2

d. Another member commented that we do have a recommended bridge type, a bridge, and the committee’s task is to enhance that option so that both the existing and new bridges speak together. 6. A member commented that having been on the PAC for 3+ years, he has seen more of the process close up. After seeing all the design options, as well as knowing there are financial factors, the concrete box type is the right choice. Perhaps if it were called an “Open Approach High View Bridge” instead of a “concrete box girder”, it would be received better by the public. The new bridge needs to honor the old bridge and we need to be understanding of the economic factors. The committee needs to make this the best bridge we can based on the factors that are in place. 7. A member commented that the new bridge can help to celebrate the river as well as provide improved pedestrian facilities. She agreed that the new bridge should complement what we have and celebrate a new unified whole. 8. A member commented that her experience passing over the existing bridge is dominated by the steel truss structure. With the design of the new bridge, she looks forward to more open views.

Crafting a Project Vision 9. Mr. Jischke shared some responses that were emailed to him prior to the meeting: a. Reflect the current era while respecting the past. b. See and feel the “Mighty Mississippi.” c. The bridge should be more than a highway. d. There should be cohesiveness between old and new while maintaining the integrity and monumentality of the existing bridge. e. Create a gateway to beauty, culture, and prosperity. 10. Subsequently, the committee separated into three smaller groups for discussion and then reported back to the full committee. 11. Comments from Table 1: a. The bridge needs to reflect Winona’s passionate history of their river. Design elements should reflect the river and interpret the river. b. The bridge is more than just a box girder. We want to invite people up on to the bridge. People should feel welcome there. c. We could open the bridge with a big party up on the bridge – an “open house.” d. There should be a memorable experience of entering the bridge. It should make people feel comfortable. e. There could be opportunities to tell stories and narratives through interpretive elements f. We want to remember the heritage of John Latsch g. The design features on the railings and overlooks could have plaques or pictures of migrating birds. h. The steamboat is a part of Winona’s history but there are other aspects as well and a desire to reflect current i. We should combat “monumentalism” by humanizing the bridge. j. The area below the bridge has the potential to be a venue for community events.

Winona Bridge Visual Quality Review Committee –Meeting #3 Notes pg. 3

12. Comments from Table 2; a. Values are art, history, and natural resources – centered on the river. b. The project should be thought of as 1 bridge, not 2 separate bridges. c. The vision should be for the long term. d. We are not just building a bridge. Its purpose is to connect people from one side of the river to the other. e. We don’t want something that is a “theme park” to yesteryear f. This will be the largest construction project in Winona in our lifetime or our children’s lifetime’s. g. We want the bridge to create a sense of arrival to Winona. It is one of the landmarks of Winona, including Sugar Loaf, the unique sky line, bluffs, and the courthouse. h. People new to the area want to see the river, touch the river. The view from the middle of the river to the City of Winona is important. It draws people in to the historic aspect of the city. 2.4 million people visit the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge each year, more than Yellowstone National Park. i. We should consider eco-tourism, or other quiet ways of experiencing the river. j. A trailhead could be developed that links the MN side, WI side, the bridge, and the Great River trail. k. The underside of the bridge is important, including sight lines and landscaping. It should not be an after-thought. 13. Comments from Table 3: a. We are interested in riverine and abstract forms that interpret the shape of the river and the value of the river b. The design themes should be incorporated into the railings and walls. c. Lighting is important. Perhaps lighted curves, following the riverine shapes, could be inset into low walls. d. Stained glass and mosaics are part of the cultural fabric of Winona. e. Art along the walkways should be incorporated, and could include glass and ceramics. f. The existing bridge was built the way it is based on the materials and industrial technology of that time. The new bridge should celebrate the technology and engineering of today.

Design Elements Presentation (Railings and Barriers, Abutments, Piers and Overlooks) 14. Mr. Jischke outlined basic parameters and requirements for railings and barriers. He shared photographs four example projects and presented four concept alternatives for an ornamental pedestrian railing that incorporate different graphic themes and patterns. 15. Mr. Jischke presented updated abutment concepts where the new bridge’s abutments tie together with old. Details for the new bridge abutments include vertical corner features and wall surface treatments that have similarities to the existing abutments but add different features to distinguish them from the existing ones. 16. Mr. Jischke outlined the status of the study of different overlook sizes. 17. Mr. Jischke presented revised river pier concepts that create additional emphasis on the upward, arching shape and explored the potential for inset graphics on the pier face. Winona Bridge Visual Quality Review Committee –Meeting #3 Notes pg. 4

18. Railing comments: a. The railing would be mounted on top of a 10” tall concrete curb to protect it from maintenance and provide a location for people to place a foot. b. A member commented that they liked the undulating top rail in the photo of the Pelsner Bridge. c. A member, commenting on Railing Concept 3, said that the rounded arch form is found in many of the architectural details of windows in downtown Winona. d. A member, commenting on Railing Concept 4, said that he does not prefer the paddle wheel railing detail. e. A member suggested that more than 1 motif could potentially be used. For instance, a different motif could be used in the overlook areas. Mr. Jischke answered that that is a possibility. f. A member commented that the transition between taller and shorter railing heights is important. g. A member asked whether the vertical feature on the abutment corner needed to be an obelisk. Mr. Jischke said that the obelisk form was chosen because it has a strong vertical presence and classic architectural presence. Other shapes are possible. h. A member asked what factors would be evaluated in determining whether the tall railing could be modified to be shorter? Mr. Jischke answered that the height was based on safety, including keeping people from crawling over the railing, or throwing objects over it. i. A member asked if the railings were steel. Mr. Jischke answered yes. j. A member asked if the railings would be painted. Mr. Jischke answered yes. k. A member asked if it were possible to add a staircase at the corners of the abutment, leading down to the walkway. Mr. Jischke answered that it could be considered, and that accessibility regulations must also be examined. l. Another member commented that adding a stairway at the abutment corner might be a visual signal to people indicating that they are welcome to come on to the bridge. 19. Abutment comments: a. A member commented that if the existing stone steps on the Latsch Island side are left in place, they will just be steps leading to nowhere and suggested that they should be taken out and re-used elsewhere. Mr. Jischke responded that at the direction of MnDOT cultural resources staff, the stone steps are currently planned to be left in place as part of the historical fabric of the place. He said that perhaps additional measures could be added to let people know not to use them. b. Another member restated that it seems odd to leave them in place, since they are no longer functional. c. A member commented that the stone is historically valuable to the City, and should be re-used in a better location elsewhere. d. Mr. Jischke asked the group if there were any other opinions on the issue. A member commented that it was better to leave them in place so that a person’s imagination could envision what was in that place in an earlier time. 20. Overlook comments: a. A member asked if 54’ was the maximum overlook length based on the pier structure. Mr. Jischke answered no, not necessarily, and it is still under review. Winona Bridge Visual Quality Review Committee –Meeting #3 Notes pg. 5

b. A member commented that the overlook should have interpretation or educational features, and maybe sculptures. c. Mr. Jischke asked if other people had thoughts regarding above deck objects at the overlooks. Several members commented that above deck features should not be located at the overlooks because they would block views. d. A member asked of the overlooks need to have a specific square foot area? Mr. Jischke commented that there is no square footage required, but that the visual proportion with the pier below should be considered. e. A member commented that their initial reaction is that it feels like their family with a couple of bikes would take up the entire space in the overlook. f. A member asked if the two overlooks could be different sizes. Mr. Jischke commented that the overlooks at the piers would likely be the same size so that the bridge was symmetrical and that the view from below should be considered. g. Mr. Molnau commented that 6’ wide by 25’ to 30’ long was a common size for overlooks on several recent bridge projects. For example, the Lafayette Bridge in St. Paul has a rounded overlook which is 8’ wide. h. A member commented that because of maintenance concerns, it was best to have no benches or objects on the overlook. i. A member commented that the view will be great in every direction from the overlooks – “180 of awesomeness.” 21. Pier comments: a. A member commented that they appreciated the view of the existing truss both above and below the box girder in the view shown of the main span from the river. b. A member commented that the view of the inside of the piers from the river is an opportunity to have something visually interesting. c. A member commented that most bridges on the Mississippi River are ugly underneath. Why not take this opportunity to do something visually attractive. d. A member commented that adding extra detail into the inset area on the pier face seemed forced and preferred the clean look instead. The extra detail takes away from the upward visual movement in the pier shape. e. A member asked if the “V” shape on the pier could be flipped upside down. f. A member commented that perhaps texture could be added, that reflected the river. It could be something subtle such as a wave or rippling water pattern. g. A member asked if the “V” shape in the pier could be pulled down even further. h. Mr. Jischke said that the design team would continue to refine concepts for the surface treatment relief.

(* Each VQRC meeting will start with an opportunity for comments or clarifications.)