Special Topics Studio: City Hall Plaza Urban Design Intervention

Urban Design Statement

The failure of City Hall Plaza is due to the combination of programmatic restrictions and a large expanse of empty space. Because of the presence of government, such as FBI Headquarters, public events were regulated and a red desert became inevitable. Today, some government offices have moved and an opportunity for the insertion of diverse programs exists. This project proposes to relocate more government offices and create a division within the plaza through the insertion of a linear grid of solid and transparent volumes. This concept allows for the creation of smaller intimate public spaces as well as creates an opportunity to revitalize and reuse certain existing conditions.

Program Statement

The detailed portion of the program to be designed consists of a restaurant as well as interior and exterior retail and public spaces. The linear grid of solid and transparent volumes transitions from the urban design intervention and into the design of the buildings. The solid and transparent volumes create an opportunity to separate the service and served and the private and public spaces. The private/service spaces become enclosed within the solid forms and the served/public spaces to spill out to the exterior and interact with public events.

Drawings

Site Plan

Layer Diagram

First Level Floor Plan

Second Level Floor Plan

Sections and Elevations

Renderings

Exterior Perspective of Restaurant: Folding Glass Door System Closed

Exterior Perspective of Restaurant - Folding Glass Door System Open

Interior Perspective of Restaurant - Folding Glass Door System Closed

Interior Perspective of Restaurant - Folding Glass Door System Open

Physical Model 

1/32" Site Model Close Up

1/32" Site Model

Perspective - 1/8" Detail Model of Restaurant

Perspective - 1/8" Detail Model of Restaurant

View of Detail on Interior of 1/8" Model