Invited Design proposal | IDOT CDB Art-in-Architecture

It’s been a pleasure thinking about how to both celebrate IDOT’s past and future engineering innovations and play a role in traveler rest and restoration at a historic rest stop to be rebuilt near Springfield.

I proposed that biophilia was an important focus for this site, providing a nature-inspired palette and view for attentional re-set. “Connect” re-imagines the highway as providing a connection to the natural world. Remnant prairies found along (secondary) highways were foregrounded for a fresh vista of central IL.

Connect2A northbound 3@72”x30” concept for glass+concrete installation c Heather Hancock 2024

Connect2A northbound 3@72”x30” concept for glass+concrete installation c Heather Hancock 2024

Connect2B southbound 3@72”x30” concept for glass+concrete installation c Heather Hancock 2024

Connect2B southbound 3@72”x30” concept for glass+concrete installation c Heather Hancock 2024

Connect2c southbound 3@72”x30” concept for glass+concrete installation c Heather Hancock 2024

Connect2c southbound 3@72”x30” concept for glass+concrete installation c Heather Hancock 2024