Ogden City, Utah is north of Salt Lake City, and has become a gathering hub for creatives in the region. In March 2020, Ogden City hired Sasaki in partnership with local firms Io LandArch and Union Creative Agency to lead the vision and design of the Nine Rails Creative District’s public realm. Nine Rails Creative District, founded in 2018, will create new opportunities for the community to engage with the arts while supporting creative businesses and programming. 

“The Dumke Arts Plaza is the shining beacon of where the city of Ogden is going,” says Ogden City Mayor Mike Caldwell.

The Sasaki team developed a concept design for the district’s thoroughfare, 25th Street, while bringing the Dumke Arts Plaza, Ogden Avenue, and the 25th Street Beacon from concept design through construction. 

“It is paramount that public space be designed with purpose and relevance,” says Anna Cawrse, Sasaki’s Denver Office Director. “This plaza will serve as a catalyst for community activation and integration of the larger internal art community.”

The plaza will be home to a myriad of arts events with maximum flexibility – from intimate concerts and live performances to film screenings and art installations. The plaza will also be space for everyday gatherings: a place to eat lunch, meet a friend, or gather with family. Whether you’re a longtime resident enjoying the views of the mountains from a new vantage point or a world-renowned artist installing a new work of art, the new district will create a public realm that is inviting and accessible to all.

Construction is expected to be completed in October 2021.