PROJECT

Upper Bee Branch Creek Restoration.

Dubuque, Iowa

Upper Bee Branch Creek Restoration

project details.

Client

City of Dubuque

Location

Dubuque, Iowa

Services

Architecture
Engineering
Structural
Municipal
Transportation
Land Survey
Field Services

Creating a design to serve as a watershed solution and a catalyst for neighborhood reinvestment & revitalization.

The City of Dubuque’s Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project was the largest capital improvement project in the City’s history.

The design takes former industrial, commercial, and residential properties and creates an open waterway with a linear park—complemented by highly-visible bridge, culvert, and overlook structures, a recreation green space and trail, outdoor amphitheater, a community orchard and playground equipment.

The Bee Branch flood mitigation project protects over 1,300 homes and businesses from frequent and severe flash flooding to prevent an estimated $582 million in flood damage over its 100-year design life.

project overview

The Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project includes two distinct sections, Lower Bee Branch and Upper Bee Branch.

The Upper Bee Branch portion was designed to take on storm water during rain events and move it safely through the area without flooding adjacent properties. It includes a 2,300-foot long landscaped creek and green space that accommodates low intensity recreational use, including a multi-use trail system, a play area with slides, scenic overlooks, an urban orchard and garden and an outdoor amphitheater which provides a venue for teaching and neighborhood gatherings.

The Upper Bee Branch bridges span the flowing creek providing horizontal and vertical clearance for a multi-use recreational trail beneath. The bridges were seen as an opportunity to create a “gateway” experience for travelers at the street level to send a message they were entering something unique and special. This was the driving force behind incorporating the planters with pedestrian viewing and seating areas and open railings. The project has the added value of improving water quality and property values and stimulating investment.

IIW served as the project manager, architect, and structural engineering consultant for both the Lower Bee Branch and Upper Bee Branch Creek Restoration projects.

Follow our journey.

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Our structural engineers recently assisted JLG Architects with this middle school addition in Alexandria, MN. Learn more about the project here.

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Chris Huseman is celebrating 30 years at Origin Design! We're so lucky to have you on our #origincrew! Happy Anniversary, Chris!

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We partnered with Logistics Park on the design and construction of a new tower at their East Dubuque operations. 3D scanning was utilized to create a point cloud model of the existing tower.

Check out these completed photos of the project & learn more here: https://origindesign.com/.../logistics-park-conveyor...

Happy Administrative Professionals Day!

Today (& everyday), we celebrate the administrative professionals who keep Origin Design running smoothly. Your hard work and dedication are appreciated! We truly couldn't do what we do without you!

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Origin Design partnered with the City of Maquoketa and East Central Intergovernmental Association [ECIA] on this project which received funding from Public Assistance Grants from the US Economic Development Administration.

Learn more about the project here.

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Meet our Architecture team!

At Origin Design, we believe architecture and creative design extend beyond the building to capture the spirit of its surroundings, personality of its users and the needs of our clients.

Our architects work directly with our clients to design spaces that are visually exciting and creative, secure, efficient and innovative.

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Check out these photos of the Smith Street Bridge over Bear Creek in Shellsburg, Iowa!

Our transportation team worked with the City of Shellsburg to help determine the best outcome for this historic bridge. The result being the addition of a new vehicular bridge downstream, while the existing bridge was rehabilitated into a pedestrian bridge.

Learn more about the project here.

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Happy 5th Anniversary, Mike McNeil! We're so lucky to have you on our #origincrew! Join us in congratulating Mike on reaching this milestone!

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Check out these finished photos of the Business 151 project we completed in Platteville, Wisconsin. This 2.1-mile-long project was funded with HSIP funds to create a safer corridor of Business 151 from Staley Avenue to Insight Drive including the signalized intersection of Business 151 with State Highway 80/81.

Learn more about the project here.

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Happy Land Surveyors Week!

Our team of Professional Land Surveyors and Surveying Technical Specialist round out our Land Survey Team!

Land surveyors ensure precise property boundaries, prevent legal disputes, and provide critical data for safe, compliant construction. They navigate zoning laws, use advanced tech like GPS and drones for accuracy, and help promote sustainable development. Surveyors are essential to every successful project!

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Origin Design's Land Survey team recently assisted with The Key Hotel site. We presented various options for modifying the parking lot, ultimately reconfiguring it for better flow in and out of the project site. An interim design was also created to support operations until full funding is secured for complete reconstruction.

Learn more about the project here.

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Meet our Land Surveying Technicians: Jeff Winter, Chris Huseman, and Mark Nickolas!

With over 90 years of combined experience, they help collect data for locating land, infrastructure, and property boundaries. They take measurements, record notes, and assist with marking land for construction using tools like GPS and total stations. The job also involves drafting maps, researching legal documents, laser scanning structures, and handling equipment while working outdoors in various weather conditions. They ensure accurate measurements for projects and support engineers and builders with reliable data.

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