Planning & Urban Design
We Create Engaging, Sustainable Places within Communities.
We use proven and creative planning to craft beautiful, buildable spaces. We engage your community members, build on their ideas, and find solutions that will work today, and tomorrow. At Bolton & Menk, our approach covers the full project—from big picture to the technical details of construction and performance. Whether we are designing an attractive space or creating a long-term vision, you can count on us to bring creativity and innovation. We are passionate about creating great places everyone can enjoy.
- pedestrian and bicycle facility planning and design
- transit planning and design
- safe routes to school planning and implementation
- micro-mobility/new mobility planning and design
- active living planning
- multimodal corridor planning and design
- multimodal safety improvements
- cav planning
- site planning and design
- single family and multifamily planning and design
- commercial and mixed use planning and design
- public-private ventures
- developer support and services
- parks
- trails
- recreation facilities
- sports fields and courts
- public plazas
- public realm
- placemaking
- Interpretive Planning and Design
- green infrastructure
- environmental restoration
- environmental review and documentation
- cultural resource management
- natural resource surveys and assessment
- chloride management
- district system development
- climate resiliency planning
- k-12 schools
- civic campuses
- colleges and universities
- medical facilities
- corporate headquarters
- small area plans
- corridor plans
- district plans
- daily planning services
- development review
- zoning code review and updates
- comprehensive plans
- master plans
- strategic planning services
- housing and economic studies
- implementation frameworks
Resources
Coffee Break: Designing Parks
Now’s the time to get out and about, with many people heading to their local parks to get some fresh air. We talked to Jonathan Nelsen, one of our landscape architects, about designing parks, the future of parks, and why he loves what he does.
Synthetic Turf Fields Are Green, But How Green?
The ‘grass’ may just be greener on a synthetic turf field! Learn how we make sure sustainability is the winner when it comes to sports facility solutions.
Drake and Bates Park Spraygrounds: The Perfect Opportunity for Outdoor Communities
Discover how Drake and Bates Park Spraygrounds achieved accessibility and created an inviting outdoor space for their communities to experience during the summertime.
Connecting Communities through Parking Lot Design
Explore how innovative parking lot design by Bolton & Menk can enhance community connectivity and sustainability.
The Role of Immigration in Planning
Planners are in a unique position to facilitate community cohesiveness by learning more about cultural distinctives, helping with community education and outreach, and providing service referrals and employment options to help new immigrants become self-sufficient.
Corridor Study Jumpstarts Projects in Mankato
Learn how Bolton & Menk and their project partners turned a corridor study into a publicly acceptable project implementation guide for Riverfront Drive.
Out with the Old, In with the Renewed: Transforming Old Buildings and Sites to Revitalize Communities
Learn about how Bolton & Menk collaborates with communities to plan and transform old buildings and sites to revitalize their futures.
Promoting Public Health Through Outdoor Community Spaces
COVID-19 shifted the way we connect with people and places. Bolton & Menk focuses on public health with thoughtful outdoor community space design.
Meet Our Environmental Planning Work Group
Learn about our Environmental Planning work group, and how we have become an industry leader in sustainable engineering.
How We Approach Comprehensive Planning to Engage Communities
Dive in to learn how Bolton & Menk engages communities in their own comprehensive plan. Comprehensive plans should be tailored to meet the needs of the community – what better way than to engage them in their own plan?
Iowa State Honors NPHC with Plaza
ISU honors its NPHC Chapter by creating a plaza for current, future, and international students, families, and alumni to gather and feel connected.
NPHC Plaza at Iowa State: Representing and Uplifting the Black Community
The NPHC Plaza at Iowa State University celebrates the rich history, accomplishments, and aspirations of Divine 9 members.
What’s the Fact about Urban Planning?
Landscape architect Grant Meacci answers some questions to set the record straight about urban design in this installment of What’s the Fact.
What’s the Fact about Sports Facilities?
Learn from Jay Pomeroy as he talks about the importance of multipurpose and sustainable sports facilities and how hybrid learning affected site design in What’s the Fact.
Building the Equity Table in Community Infrastructure
What does equity really mean, and how does it play a role in community infrastructure? Learn what it takes to equitably plan for your community’s needs.
Rural Community Planning: Making Sure the Sidewalk Doesn’t End
Any community can be successful when it comes to ensuring the sidewalk doesn’t end with rural community planning, policies, and engagement!
