Theme 1: Urban Form

Urban form is about how buildings, streets, and public spaces come together to create a downtown that feels distinctly Wichitan and gives people a reason to stay, explore and return.

Through the Action Plan process, Wichitans expressed a desire for downtown to grow and become more urban while maintaining a strong sense of character. The Urban Form theme focuses on three priorities: creating a clear sense of downtown identity, promoting an active street-level experience and encouraging high-quality design.

These priorities support the goals of a well-designed, connected downtown.

Creating a Stronger Downtown Identity

As downtown grows, creating distinct districts can help people better understand, navigate and experience the urban core – especially in a large downtown of more than 100 blocks.

The Action Plan suggests eight districts, each representing a unique area shaped by its own mix of destinations, character and activity while cohesively connecting to one another. Districts are defined by nodes, and the suggested district nodes in downtown Wichita are as follows: Arena, Biomedical, Coleman (music and arts), Museums on the River, Government Center, Old Town, River and NDT (Northern Downtown).

Place branding and wayfinding can further reinforce what makes each district unique. Signage, colors, typography and materials can help people recognize where they are and create a more cohesive experience as they move throughout downtown.

Creating an Active Downtown

A successful downtown is experienced both from the sidewalk and from within a building.

The Action Plan emphasizes active street-level spaces, including storefronts, entrances, art displays, restaurants, retail and other uses that bring energy to the adjacent street. For businesses and developers, how a building engages the sidewalk can help create a more inviting downtown experience.

Recommended actions include partnering with the city to expand the Façade Improvement Program, working with owners of vacant buildings to activate underused spaces, supporting programs such as “Adopt a Block,” and developing clear public-realm standards.

Raising the Bar for Design

The quality of new development will shape how downtown looks and feels for decades.

The Action Plan encourages high-quality design and materials in new development projects. Thoughtful, durable projects that respond to their surroundings and reflect Wichita’s legacy of quality downtown construction will contribute to the public realm.

Every project becomes part of downtown’s long-term physical environment. Thoughtful design can strengthen individual investments while contributing to a more attractive, walkable and connected urban core.

Shaping Downtown’s Next Chapter

Urban Form provides a framework for how downtown Wichita can grow while creating a stronger sense of place.

For developers, property owners and business leaders, the Action Plan offers a shared vision to consider when planning new projects, renovating existing properties or engaging with the surrounding district.

The goal is a downtown where individual investments add up to something bigger: a distinctive, active and well-designed urban core ready for its next decade of growth.