OKOBOJI, IA — RDG Planning & Design announces that Tyler Jessen, AIA, was awarded first prize in the Emerging Professionals Competition. The competition features work of architecture students, architecture interns, and architects licensed for 10 or years or less.

Qualified students and architects submit their work to AIA Iowa, which is then selected through a People’s Choice selection process. Emerging Professional competition aims to promote the efforts of the rising generation of architects and designers while inspiring professionals to continue to mentor and engage the next generation of industry professionals.

Jessen’s submitted work featured a green space performance venue in historic Arnolds Park located in Okoboji, Iowa, aimed at attracting public presence to the area. Jessen’s proposed design provides a contextual link to the site’s natural and built amenities, including mature trees and a roller coaster, by incorporating an undulating amphitheater with a wooden canopy and color-changing LED lighting.

Connecting preservation to modern functionality, design for the performance venue and viewing deck offers unobstructed sight lines to one of Iowa’s most celebrated lakeside recreational areas. The project is currently under construction and is anticipated to be completed in summer 2022.

In total, three winning submissions were selected. The exhibition of winning work was displayed during the 2021 AIA Iowa Convention and viewed by more than 1,000 attendees and exhibitors.