Rio Reimagined Competition Entry Wins AZ ASLA Award

The Arizona Chapter of the ASLA awarded the Dig Studio / AECOM team a design award in the unbuilt category for their finalist entry in the ‘Rio Reimagined’ ecosystem restoration competition entry. The plan braids ecological, social, and physical layers to restore resiliency, create public amenities, catalyze development, and protect and enhance neighborhoods and ecosystems.

Several themes were combined for the winning entry. Destinations are created by leveraging opportunities to reclaim landfills and mines. A restored river follows its natural course and takes advantage of the high-water table. Undevelopable areas are repurposed as Sponge Parks to combine flood mitigation, water treatment, and heat abatement.