Like a Cow out of Pasture. A midwest boy in the bright Fremont Casino lights.

It has finally arrived; my final semester of college. In order to reach this point, time mounted a leisurely pace, with moments of football games, homecoming celebrations, and professional preparation having all but passed. The moment where reality meets ambition has finally arrived.

In my final studio, we are looking at two properties in Downtown Las Vegas...while in Central Iowa. Understandably, we are all eager to get to Las Vegas and actually sink our teeth into what lies ahead; but we wholeheartedly understand that sometimes that cannot happen immediately. So for now, we must gather as much information at our disposal while in the Heartland. My first task is to understand the dynamics of the different Districts within downtown Las Vegas, and how it applies to the two sites in question.

Upon first glance these two sites, set in the northwest corner of downtown and just southeast of the junction of the Las Vegas Freeway and the Veterans Memorial Highway, are surrounded by a vast number of fascinating districts. With areas devoted to art, commerce, and gambling, it would appear that these two sites of interest have almost everything at their disposal. But, until we finally arrive in the reality of Las Vegas, it will be impossible to know for sure.

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Why are Districts Important?

(Points Taken From Kevin Lynch's The Image of the City)

They are relatively large areas that can subdivide a city.
We can mentally go inside of them. In other words, they have a distinct and particular feeling.
Can be used as external references.
Districts can make a city feel small.
Convey a thematic continuity.
(And the design worthy kicker) Districts contain a STRONG core surrounded by a thematic gradient.

The hope is that this early research and understanding of why districts are important will inform on site decisions about what is appropriate where.

An online resource of The Image of the City :

http://www.academia.edu/5246993/Kevin_Lynch-_The_Image_of_the_City

A quick sketch of the Arts District Sign, and a few big points taken from Kevin Lynch's "The Image of the City." The final line says "Districts can make a city feel smaller." That is key.