West Burlington / Burlington

West Burlington serves as regional hub and is home to the Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center, Southeastern Community College, and regional retailers. Nearly 60 percent of the West Burlington Community School District's student enrollment is from outside of West Burlington. Residents have a strong, community-oriented nature with numerous multi-generational families. 

Burlington is the center of a micropolitan area, which includes West Burlington and Middletown Iowa, and Gulfport, Illinois. The first territorial capital of Iowa, Burlington was a bustling river port in the steamboat era and a central city to the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. The city has a strong manufacturing sector, though its largest employer today is the Great River Medical Center.

Burlington is home to the Burlington Bees, a summer collegiate team. Dubbed the Crookedest Street in America, Snake Alley is a tourist destination. Established in 1837, Burlington's The Hawk Eye newspaper is the oldest in the state.

map
County
Des Moines

Projects

old brick building

Burlington - Adaptive Reuse of Industrial Buildings

Published
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

There are several existing buildings in Burlington, including the former Dial Soap building that is nearly 127,000 square-feet, that the city hopes to rehabilitate and adapt for new uses. As part of their capstone work, students in Civil and Environmental Engineering will assess the buildings and create designs for adaptive reuse.

a park in summer

Burlington - Crapo Park Amphitheater Evaluation and Rehabilitation

Published
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

For a capstone project, students in Civil and Environmental students will review the structural integrity of an amphitheater and create designs for rehabilitation.

Blueprint

Burlington - Parks and Recreation Facility Design and Engineering

Published
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

The City of Burlington seeks designs for a new building to house its Parks and Recreation division. The building needs to include offices, public meeting areas, storage, and locker rooms. For their capstone project, students in Civil and Environmental Engineering will provide designs, pricing, and a timeline for the project.

Snake Alley in Burlington

West Burlington & Burlington - Arts and Culture Master Plan

Published
Friday, August 16, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

For their capstone project, graduate students in the School of Planning and Public Affairs will create the first comprehensive arts and cultural plan for West Burlington and Burlington, communities that share a border and strong sense of collaboration while maintaining distinct identities.

snow plow on highway

West Burlington & Burlington - Shared Services Study

Published
Thursday, August 15, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

During the fall semester, the MPA capstone team will conduct research (e.g. literature review, case studies) to better understand the service needs of West Burlington and Burlington, as well as locating effective approaches undertaken by other communities. During Spring semester, the team will focus on engaging stakeholders, analyzing existing local conditions, cost/benefit analyses, and developing recommendations.  

drawing of cyclists and pedestrian

West Burlington & Burlington - Transportation and Land Use Plan

Published
Thursday, August 15, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

The Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission (SEIRPC) has produced several transportation-related plans, including the Greater Burlington Bike & Pedestrian Plan (2020) to the Region 16 Passenger Transportation Plan (2021). This capstone project for students in Urban Planning and Sustainable Development will build upon these efforts to sustain recent momentum around multi-modal transportation options and identify new opportunities to increase mobility for residents, particularly for residents without reliable access to transportation. 

park

West Burlington - Luers Park Stormwater Drainage Engineering and Design

Published
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

For their capstone project, Civil and Environmental Engineering students will focus on drainage of Luers Park in West Burlington. They will assess the current situation and develop plans toward alleviating current hydraulic problems.  

row of young people with shovels and freshly tilled dirt

West Burlington - Prairie Restoration

Published
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025
During the fall semester, UI students enrolled in “Prairie Restoration” will work with the City of West Burlington to help design and construct a new prairie garden. Students will help assess potential project sites and select native plants suitable for the project site. Finally, students will assist city staff with the planting and help develop a prairie maintenance plan.
The once great North American Prairie is a now a shadow of its former self.
new house

West Burlington - Property Subdivision Site Engineering and Design

Published
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

Students in a capstone Civil and Environmental Engineering program will design a site plan for the subdivision that will maximize the number of homes that can be developed. They may include plans for a pocket park as part of the project, setting the example for future developments. 

Digital image of two rows of trees with a path down the middle.

West Burlington - Trail Engineering and Design

Published
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

For their capstone project, students in Civil and Environmental Engineering will design a 10-foot wide trail that includes pedestrian cross improvements at several intersections. The trail will run near a recreation complex, several schools, residential and commercial areas, and a senior housing unit.