Print edition: 
LawKingdon Architecture of Wichita will advise and provide design services to the WaterWalk mixed-use development.
It's the latest move as new owner Jack DeBoer courts developers, designers and the public in an effort to kickstart interest in the struggling downtown project.
LawKingdon will review prospective plans, ensuring a consistent design across future buildings within the mixed-used development, WaterWalk officials said Wednesday.
"We're certainly not the experts when it comes to design work. They are," said Doug Rupe, who's managing the WaterWalk project for DeBoer.
"As we work with more architects and contractors, and as we proceed later to the entertainment phase, we want to make sure that we have some local experts looking over our shoulder to say we're on the right path or we may need to tweak something."
LawKingdon will handle future planning for WaterWalk and will interact with city and local officials working on downtown revitalization planning.
Over the past two weeks, DeBoer has hosted an open house for commercial brokers, architects and contractors at WaterWalk Place.
That outreach will continue, Rupe said, as DeBoer talks with potential WaterWalk tenants.
"These are people who have longstanding relationships with companies we want to attract, whether commercial office, retail or entertainment," Rupe said.
"We want to tap into those networks, so we're reaching out and opening it up."
