The Foundry Shopping Center
Project Details:
- Site development for two commercial buildings divided into five retail suites
- Creative Stormwater Management Design
- Landscape architecture considerations for a high volume of pedestrians and cyclists
Austin Engineering’s Roles:
- Site Planning
- Stormwater Management
- Landscape Architecture
Project Description:
The Foundry in Bloomington, IL, exemplifies innovative and sustainable engineering and design. Built on a reclaimed foundry site, the center features two buildings with five retail suites, showcasing a modern aesthetic with Dark Bronze standing seam roofs and Slate Gray architectural metal wall panels. Austin Engineering employed creative solutions for traditional site requirements, using drought-tolerant native plantings for low-maintenance landscaping and decorative, flexible gravel pavement for ADA compliance, ensuring durability and permeability without needing de-icing agents. Stormwater management is enhanced with native forbs and grasses in detention basins, contributing to sustainability and aesthetic appeal. The pedestrian-friendly design accommodates cyclists and foot traffic due to its proximity to the Constitution Trail while offering a park-themed, safe rest-stop environment. Visually, the development intertwines with its surrounding architecture through custom Corten steel planters, cinnamon-red maple trees, and strategically placed cream-colored boulders, creating seasonal interest and harmonizing with The Foundry’s rustic yet modern vibe.
Project Highlights:
- The chosen site for construction was a remediated old foundry site, hence the shopping center’s name.
- Unique gravel pavement that’s permeable, doesn’t crack and doesn’t require de-icing agents.
- We took a creative approach to stormwater management, utilizing detention basins filled with native forbs and grasses resistant to being submerged underwater.
- Because Bloomington Cycle and Fitness was part of the new shopping center, landscape design and architecture considerations were focused on accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists, and people with disabilities.
- Landscape design that compliments the brick colors and rustic theme of the Foundry building with a distinct modern flare.