Paulding Road Gateway Design

JPR undertook the development of three gateway pieces along Paulding Road. The intersection of Paulding Road and Fairfield Avenue welcomes northbound traffic, and travelers from the Fort Wayne International Airport, to the south side of the City and is along a major corridor to downtown.

The project included a gateway feature at the Paulding Road and Fairfield Avenue intersection, a 40-foot-long median gateway design, and a functional bench at Kettler Park. JPR also developed a standard intersection design that utilized artistic pavement markings to help provide the area with a civic identity.

The team overcame challenges with the design, including developing a size-appropriate gateway that would not only be identifiable from vehicular traffic but also easy to experience at a pedestrian scale. Additionally, a consistent theme and artistic style needed to be transferred across all three unique pieces.

Several concept designs, representing both localized neighborhoods and Fort Wayne as a whole, were presented to the City. Final designs were then developed based on collaborative feedback.

When complete, this gateway project will provide an attractive intersection and aesthetically pleasing stretch of road that embraces the cultural identity of Fort Wayne and the Paulding Road community.