AMES, IA — The Iowa Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA Iowa) announces its 2024 chapter awards, recognizing the Ames Plan 2040 with a Daniel Burnham Award for a Comprehensive Plan. The Daniel Burnham Award recognizes projects that advance the science and art of planning and honors America’s most famous planner, Daniel Burnham, for his contributions to the planning profession. Conferred annually, the APA Iowa Chapter Awards honor plans and professionals who work to advance the practice across Iowa.

The City of Ames, Iowa, partnered with RDG Planning & Design and HDR, Inc. to develop the Ames Plan 2040. The plan sets a forward-thinking vision for the Ames community, fostering sustainable development and growth over the next 20 years.

The Ames 2040 Plan explores how adding 15,000 new residents would impact Ames' infrastructure and community character across four primary areas. Planners examined potential growth directions — whether to concentrate on infill, expand outward, or grow in multiple directions. The plan’s build-out scenario accounted for future needs and investments, providing a phased approach to prioritize development areas. This data-driven strategy helps Ames manage its growth sustainably, aligning infrastructure investments with long-term community goals and facilitating a balanced approach to infill versus expansion.

Judging for the APA Iowa awards was performed by an out-of-state jury of planning professionals. The majority of jurors said that they are in agreement that the nomination is an exemplary submission to receive an award. The APA Iowa Planning Award winners were recognized at the APA Iowa Annual Conference awards luncheon in Sioux City, Iowa.