COLLINS/ARAPAHO TOD & INNOVATION DISTRICT
Innovation and Evolution in North Texas
Interface Studio, Ninigret Partners and Big Red Dog were hired by the City of Richardson to develop a vision for the Collins/Arapaho District, a major Dallas-Fort Worth job center located around the Arapaho Center DART light rail station. The District became nationally known as the Telecomm Corridor® with its concentration of some of the country’s biggest telecommunications firms and suppliers.
Today, the tech sector has diversified from its telecom equipment roots and now includes companies across a wide range of industries. Research and new academic programs at nearby institutions signal the potential for further diversification.
In a region that is rapidly growing outward with worsening traffic conditions and longer commutes, the study positions Richardson, a first-ring suburb of Dallas, to take full advantage of its assets: location, transit, space, and innovation talent.
With a prime location in the fast-growing Dallas-Fort Worth region and a legacy to build on, the Collins/Arapaho District is ready for its next phase.
The team was tasked with exploring how to evolve the Collins-Arapaho District’s 1,200 acres of industrial flex and office space into a more vibrant, mixed use, amenitized place that can attract start-ups and help companies that start in Richardson stay and grow in Richardson.
To do this, the team sought input from workers, commuters and local residents through open houses, pop-up meetings at offices and the rail station, and an on-line survey.
Through this process, the team identified opportunities to create a stronger District identity, upgrade and maximize the District’s real estate to support start-ups and scale-ups, inject open space amenities and temporary programming to enliven the area, expand mobility options and capitalize on the District’s transit assets.
