Project Description
FROM THE ARCHITECTS:
Located in a historic area near the courthouse and once a centerpiece of the downtown, this plaza had become a haven for the city’s homeless and drug dealers to congregate. Improvements had been made to an existing amphitheater on the south side, and now the City’s CRA was looking for a facelift and a redesign of the north side of the plaza to create a safe, attractive and lively place for people to enjoy both day and night.
The north side of the plaza felt like the “back of house,” with a run-down bus shelter blocking views into the space and encouraging loitering. Unsightly newspaper boxes anchored one edge of the plaza, and high brick planting boxes blocked sight lines and directed pedestrians in an awkward and regimented grid.
A series of community meetings sent the message that citizens wanted more events, a better sense of safety and cleanliness, and more vendors and daytime activities that would bring visitors and downtown pedestrian traffic to the plaza on a daily basis.
Improvements began with the bus shelter being demolished and relocated. A new brick building behind the amphitheater stage was built and serves multiple purposes. Its north façade became a defining element at the entrance to the plaza, with an interactive water feature that creates a sense of arrival. Water runs over a mesh curtain along the brick, and provides a recirculating surface that can be touched, projected upon, or highlighted with constantly changing lights and colors.
The brick building also houses new public restrooms and a “green room” for performers, who once had to change and prepare for productions in an electrical closet. The new space has dressing rooms, storage areas and facilities that will help attract a new level of performances to the plaza.
Softer landscaping in lower, curvilinear planters improves sight lines and safety, invigorating the area and deterring its use by vagrants. New lighting, pathways and signage also serve to promote a safe and attractive environment.
Two smaller structures were also added: a café with indoor and outdoor seating and a manned information kiosk / ticket booth. The unsightly newspaper boxes were replaced with a compact unit along one wall of the café. “The improvements have improved the safety, visibility and accessibility of the whole place,” says the City’s Project Manager. “It makes the plaza feel more welcome and open. And it makes people feel more comfortable.”
Previous Site Conditions
To make a plaza a vibrant center of activity and a destination, it must have active programming, events, and public amenities associate with it. Activities can include holiday events, food or craft markets, temporary public art installations or exhibits, and music and dancing. This plaza had too few of those events and activities to keep the site active throughout a day, week, or month, which left the site vulnerable for undesirable loitering and drug trafficking.
The main access road that passes the site is University Drive and the only thing facing this main corridor is a dilapidated bus stop. The backs of the stage and restaurant face this main road, so the site lacked the sense of arrival needed to draw passersby to the plaza when it didn’t have events.
Existing pedestrian pathways on this site forced patrons around many different obstacles in a grid-like fashion. Numerous planters and trees reduced the visual corridor from University Drive, so pedestrians couldn’t see and potentially prevent crimes from occurring.
The City wanted this central urban plaza to become a vibrant center of activity and a destination in itself.
However, the main face of the plaza was a dilapidated bus stop, and activities such as the amphitheater and stage had their backs facing the main road. Events were held irregularly and the site was left vulnerable for undesirable loitering and drug trafficking.
Demolition Plan
To create better pedestrian flow, improve views, and create a new gateway to the plaza, many elements had to be demolished or reshaped
New Site Circulation Plan
Removing the bus stop and the drop-off area from the north end of the plaza increased pedestrian flow and improved views into the site.
New Site Plan and Buildings
The new improvements to the north end of the plaza encouraged the city to make other improvements to the site, including redoing the lighting, patching or repairing damaged paver areas, pruning low hanging tree branches, re-sodding the other lawn areas, and pressure washing the entire plaza. The city also added the first installment of a new bike-share program.
Reducing Planter Heights
Planters were lowered, trees were pruned, and ground coverings changed to improve sight lines and security through the plaza.
New curved seat walls were designed with attached wood benches to encourage designated seating in certain areas and discouraging skateboard grinding.
With the low plantings and pruned trees, views throughout the site have really opened up.
Green Room Floor Plan
Before these plaza improvements, actors performing on the stage used the storage room to change and the restrooms were single toilet rooms that were being used for drug trafficking.
Green Room Improvements
We added a green room with two dressing rooms behind the stage designed with support areas for performances and new public restrooms with airport style entrances to improve sound, security and access.
Enlivening the University Avenue Entrance
The “back-of-house” element that faced University Drive needed to provide a welcoming entryway into the plaza, and become a gateway to the shops, restaurants, hotels and condos which can’t be seen from the street.
Providing an active water feature that could be illuminated at night – whether or not there was an event – makes this façade attractive to pedestrians, families with children, and other passersby both day and night.
The lights were designed to be easily changed depending on the event or season. The mesh can also be touched and projected on, and a variety of different lighting options are available.
The seating in front of the water feature contributes to positive pedestrian interaction. The solid concrete seat wall, with paving features matching others in the plaza, prevents vagrants from storing items underneath benches.
Information Kiosk
The addition of an information kiosk not only serves as a distribution center for tickets and information, but also helps keep the plaza safer by providing additional “eyes” on the plaza.
The Café
The addition of a lively café helps to keep the north end of the plaza active throughout the day and encourages positive pedestrian activity in the park.
In order to connect the café both visually and physically to the rest of the plaza, roll-up storefront doors were used in the café to allow restaurant patrons the option of eating inside while still experiencing the activities going on in the plaza.
Activating Public Spaces
The previously unsightly newspaper boxes were relocated to a location near the café.