Mill Street Pedestrian Plaza

Atlas Lab led the redevelopment of Mill Street in the heart of Historic Downtown Grass Valley, transforming it from a vehicular street into a vibrant pedestrian plaza. Building on the success of the temporary closure of two blocks during the COVID-19 pandemic, which created much-needed public space, Atlas was contracted to oversee the permanent reimagining of Mill Street. The project aimed to support local businesses, boost community programming, and establish a welcoming destination that celebrates Grass Valley’s unique character and history. Atlas was responsible for master planning improvements at the downtown district level and advancing the plaza design to 30% completion. In this role, Atlas led a multidisciplinary team, including experts in transportation planning, civil engineering, and architecture, and managed a comprehensive stakeholder and community engagement process. The City of Grass Valley ultimately executed the project through a Design-Build delivery process.

Photography: Kial James Design + Photography