We recently sat down with Matthew Stanfield of Field 9 Architecture to discuss some of the projects they are working on in the Mansfield Community.

In addition to the Resurrection Parish bell tower, relocation of the Entrepreneurial Kitchen, and the Mansfield Police Department indoor shooting range, Field 9 will be beginning the redesign of the Little Buckeye Children's Museum.

The museum is moving to Park Ave and the main entrance to the old IBM building they will be occupying will be moving to 3^rd Avenue to make parking for museum patrons more convenient. The new space will allow for triple the exhibit space.

Moving the museum will move it slightly away from other area attractions, however there is space around the new location that would allow for other businesses to open up. This area is a great opportunity for further revitalization in Downtown Mansfield.

One of the ways Matthew is hoping to help with that revitalization is by studying how to improve the walkability score of Mansfield. If you are wondering what a walkability score is and how it improves business and neighborhoods let's dive into that a bit.

A walk score uses a scientific method to determine how walker friendly a neighborhood is. This means that homes that have easy access to markets, shopping, entertainment, etc. in a short walking distance have a higher walk score. The same methods are used for biking and transit to determine what neighborhoods have the best of each kind of transportation.

A great example of how a higher walk score can improve home values and boost business is downtown Cleveland. In areas such as Ohio City where old warehouses have been converted to luxury condos and there are neighborhood markets and entertainment just steps from where people live the price tag on those condos has risen considerably.

Matthew has been studying how the walk score can be improved in Mansfield so that our area can experience the benefits of the higher walking score. By becoming involved in this area he and Field 9 Architecture are proving themselves a great asset to Mansfield and the surrounding area.

Field 9 is also a Certified Passive House Consultant and available for a variety of projects. Please give them a call if you are in need of a great team to design a space that is suited for you or to redesign your existing space.