21st Century Update

WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK: THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY UPDATE

Daniel Allen Mark Cunningham Xavier Gavin Brian Hampel Andria Nutsch Mary Rogers

What makes a public space SUCCESSFUL?

What makes a public space SUCCESSFUL? What does KANSAS CITY need?

What makes a public space SUCCESSFUL? What does KANSAS CITY need?

What can WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK become?

A SUCCESSFUL public space is... an attraction

varied programming

utilized by surrounding residents

DESIGN STRATEGY: RESEARCH BASED DESIGN who are the current park users? who are the potential users? what are the assets on which we can capitalize?

CURRENT PARK USES: EVENTS WSP is and needs to continue to act as a central location for KC parades and races.

The park will be a visual and physical connection between the street car stops on Main and the bus stop on Grand.

CURRENT PARK USES: KC MARATHON

CURRENT PARK USES: KC MARATHON

Infrastructure to support runners, parade attendees, and festival-goers is needed in the park

TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC: RESIDENTIAL Successful parks are needed and utilized by their surrounding residents.

But right now, the residential population is low near WSP.

201+ persons 100-200 persons 51-100 persons 11-60 persons 1-10 persons

WSP needs a higher residential population to increase demand for open green space

TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC: EMPLOYEES

The employment population is high near WSP, and as a result night life in the park is basically non-existent, with most employees commuting back to their homes after normal business hours.

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Due to Kansas City’s high percentage of workplace commuters, WSP sees most of its activity during the day.

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Most employees commute back to their homes after business hours

POTENTIAL USERS: TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT RESIDENTS Significant residential development has already begun to occur in the transportation district.

Approximately $837 million has been invested in residential housing units in the specified area.

$837 million residential investment in transportation district

POTENTIAL USERS: STREET CAR TRANSPORT However, the new Kansas City street car could help to change all of that.

WSP is in a prime development district due to economic investment along the street car line, which will pass right by the park on Main Street.

Kansas City Streetcar runs along western edge of WSP

POTENTIAL USERS: TRANSPORTATION HUB With the arrival of the street car, WSP will need to act as a transportation hub.

The street car will reroute existing bus routes on Main Street over to Grand Boulevard.

The park will be a visual and physical connection between the street car stops on Main and the bus stop on Grand.

POTENTIAL USERS: TRANSPORTATION HUB

WSP southern edge needs to function as a main circulation path between the street car and bus stops

DESIGN FACTORS

DESIGN FACTORS Historically, the park was a refuge for tired travelers passing through Union Station.

Removing the link helps to visually re-establish this decades-old connection.

Removal of the link to re-establish connection with Union Station

“THE LINK” STUDIES

“THE LINK” STUDIES

“THE LINK” STUDIES

“THE LINK” STUDIES

SPACE STUDIES: REAL & IMPLIED We wanted to physically connect the two major spaces adjacent to WSP. The first connection is to the front of Union Station, and the second is Crown Center. The park should act as an avenue between the major attractions.

Implied connection space to Union Station

SPACE STUDIES: REAL & IMPLIED We wanted to physically connect the two major spaces adjacent to WSP. The first connection is to the front of Union Station, and the second is Crown Center. The park should act as an avenue between the major attractions.

Implied connection space to Crown Center

VIEWSHED DIAGRAMS

VIEWSHED DIAGRAMS

SCHEMATIC DESIGN

SCHEMATIC DESIGN

regulating site lines

SCHEMATIC DESIGN

resultant park zones

SCHEMATIC DESIGN

design intent

1 Inviting Entrance • announce WSP to street car passengers • threshold of park’s western edge • connection point for visitors from Union Station

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SCHEMATIC DESIGN

design intent

1 Significant Entry Marker 2 Plaza Space • claim north lanes of Pershing for food truck occupation • visual connection between Main and Grand street car and bus stops • gathering space for established WSP events, such as: Irish Fest Kansas City Marathon Parades • an environment that supports future events, such as: Food Truck Festivals Beer Gardens

WKCDA Arts Pavilion/Hong Kong/XML Architecture Research Urbanism

2

SCHEMATIC DESIGN

design intent

1 Significant Entry Marker 2 Plaza Space 3 Indoor/Outdoor Pavilion • formalize view of downtown while keeping seating casual • ideal seating space for concerts, plays • opportunity for user-defined play and interaction with the lifted ground plane

Aberdeen City Garden Project/Aberdeen, UK/Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Keppie Design, and Olin Studio

3

SCHEMATIC DESIGN 1 2 3 4

design intent

Significant Entry Marker Plaza Space Indoor/Outdoor Pavilion Open Lawn • open lawn with a twist (part of pavilion) • user-defined activities • staging for concerts or plays with downtown KC as a backdrop

4

Hypar Pavilion/New York, NY/Diller Scofidio + Renfro

SCHEMATIC DESIGN 1 2 3 4 5

design intent

Significant Entry Marker Plaza Space Indoor/Outdoor Pavilion Open Lawn Grand Boulevard Corridor • pedestrian corridor • Making Grand Grand development zone • porous edge

5

Making Grand Grand Streetscape/Kansas City, MO/BNIM

VIDEO

VIEWS TO THE NORTH

VIEWS TO THE NORTH

VIEWS TO THE NORTH

SITE DESIGN Making Grand Grand and Main Streetcar

SITE DESIGN Pavilion and Urban Plaza Divide

SITE DESIGN Urban Plaza Design

SITE DESIGN Plaza + Trees

SITE DESIGN Pavilion Tops Design

SITE DESIGN Remainder of Site Landscaping

SITE DESIGN Populated Site PlanConcert

SITE DESIGN Populated Site PlanParade

SITE DESIGN Populated Site PlanBeer Garden/Festival

PROGRAMMING DIAGRAM

PROGRAMMING DIAGRAM

PROGRAMMING DIAGRAM

PROGRAMMING DIAGRAM: CAFE

PROGRAMMING DIAGRAM: RESTROOMS

PROGRAMMING DIAGRAM

PROGRAMMING DIAGRAM

Railing Railing is placed along the edges of each hill and can be lit at night for way finding as well as reinforcing the pavilions location to those looking south from the downtown area.

Skylight seating Skylights are integrated into the hill, bringing light to the plaza side covered pavilion space. These lights also act as seating for those occupying the north side of the hill.

Pavilion top side The eastern most hills is paved with an ADA accessible ramp that takes park visitors to the 20’ elevated walkway.

Here they can view crown center to the south and the Kansas City skyline to the north.

Pod system Spaces created by a 10’ by 10’ modular system make implied rooms that give character to each overhead pavilion plane. In some cases these pods serve specific functions and in other they are flexible to accommodate the many uses that may be required by the plaza.

Ground Plane and Structural grid The facades of the two eastern pavilions are comprised of 6’ glass panels that pivot on center. This allows the spaces to function as open events or enclosed areas.

Railing Railing is placed along the edges of each hill and can be lit at night for way finding as well as reinforcing the pavilions location to those looking south from the downtown area.

S kylight seating Skylights are integrated into the hill, bringing light to the plaza side covered pavilion space. These lights also act as seating for those occupying the north side of the hill.

Pavilion top side The eastern most hills is paved with an ADA accessible ramp that takes park visitors to the 20’ elevated walkway.

Here they can view crown center to the south and the Kansas City skyline to the north.

Pod system Spaces created by a 10’ by 10’ modular system make implied rooms that give character to each overhead pavilion plane. In some cases these pods serve specific functions and in other they are flexible to accommodate the many uses that may be required by the plaza.

Ground Plane and Structural grid The facades of the two eastern pavilions are comprised of 6’ glass panels that pivot on center. This allows the spaces to function as open events or enclosed areas.

Railing Railing is placed along the edges of each hill and can be lit at night for way finding as well as reinforcing the pavilions location to those looking south from the downtown area.

Skylight seating Skylights are integrated into the hill, bringing light to the plaza side covered pavilion space. These lights also act as seating for those occupying the north side of the hill.

Pavilion top side The eastern most hills is paved with an ADA accessible ramp that takes park visitors to the 20’ elevated walkway.

Here they can view crown center to the south and the Kansas City skyline to the north.

Pod system Spaces created by a 10’ by 10’ modular system make implied rooms that give character to each overhead pavilion plane. In some cases these pods serve specific functions and in other they are flexible to accommodate the many uses that may be required by the plaza.

Ground Plane and Structural grid The facades of the two eastern pavilions are comprised of 6’ glass panels that pivot on center. This allows the spaces to function as open events or enclosed areas.

Railing Railing is placed along the edges of each hill and can be lit at night for way finding as well as reinforcing the pavilions location to those looking south from the downtown area.

Skylight seating Skylights are integrated into the hill, bringing light to the plaza side covered pavilion space. These lights also act as seating for those occupying the north side of the hill.

Pavilion top side The eastern most hills is paved with an ADA accessible ramp that takes park visitors to the 20’ elevated walkway.

Here they can view crown center to the south and the Kansas City skyline to the north.

Pod system Spaces created by a 10’ by 10’ modular system make implied rooms that give character to each overhead pavilion plane. In some cases these pods serve specific functions and in other they are flexible to accommodate the many uses that may be required by the plaza.

Ground Plane and Structural grid The facades of the two eastern pavilions are comprised of 6’ glass panels that pivot on center. This allows the spaces to function as open events or enclosed areas.

Railing Railing is placed along the edges of each hill and can be lit at night for way finding as well as reinforcing the pavilions location to those looking south from the downtown area.

Skylight seating Skylights are integrated into the hill, bringing light to the plaza side covered pavilion space. These lights also act as seating for those occupying the north side of the hill.

Pavilion top side The eastern most hills is paved with an ADA accessible ramp that takes park visitors to the 20’ elevated walkway.

Here they can view crown center to the south and the Kansas City skyline to the north.

Pod system Spaces created by a 10’ by 10’ modular system make implied rooms that give character to each overhead pavilion plane. In some cases these pods serve specific functions and in other they are flexible to accommodate the many uses that may be required by the plaza.

Ground Plane and Structural grid The facades of the two eastern pavilions are comprised of 6’ glass panels that pivot on center. This allows the spaces to function as open events or enclosed areas.

Railing Railing is placed along the edges of each hill and can be lit at night for way finding as well as reinforcing the pavilions location to those looking south from the downtown area.

Skylight seating Skylights are integrated into the hill, bringing light to the plaza side covered pavilion space. These lights also act as seating for those occupying the north side of the hill.

Pavilion top side The eastern most hills is paved with an ADA accessible ramp that takes park visitors to the 20’ elevated walkway.

Here they can view crown center to the south and the Kansas City skyline to the north.

Pod system Spaces created by a 10’ by 10’ modular system make implied rooms that give character to each overhead pavilion plane. In some cases these pods serve specific functions and in other they are flexible to accommodate the many uses that may be required by the plaza.

Ground Plane and Structural grid The facades of the two eastern pavilions are comprised of 6’ glass panels that pivot on center. This allows the spaces to function as open events or enclosed areas.

Ceiling plane As before mentioned; only the café and restrooms have ceiling planes. All other pods are open to the roof of the pavilion.

Wood siding Wood siding reinforces the horizontal datum of the elevated walkway. This siding is also lit from underneath allowing the pods to be distinguishable at night.

Physical barrier Glass walls create implied boundaries for pods while maintaining the visual connection plaza visitors have to the open plaza.

Pod base Pods are constructed from concrete and are 10’ tall. With the exception of the restroom and the café’, pods do not have a ceiling enclosure.

Ceiling plane As before mentioned; only the café and restrooms have ceiling planes. All other pods are open to the roof of the pavilion.

Wood siding Wood siding reinforces the horizontal datum of the elevated walkway. This siding is also lit from underneath allowing the pods to be distinguishable at night.

Physical barrier Glass walls create implied boundaries for pods while maintaining the visual connection plaza visitors have to the open plaza.

Pod base Pods are constructed from concrete and are 10’ tall. With the exception of the restroom and the café’, pods do not have a ceiling enclosure.

Ceiling plane As before mentioned; only the café and restrooms have ceiling planes. All other pods are open to the roof of the pavilion.

Wood siding Wood siding reinforces the horizontal datum of the elevated walkway. This siding is also lit from underneath allowing the pods to be distinguishable at night.

Physical barrier Glass walls create implied boundaries for pods while maintaining the visual connection plaza visitors have to the open plaza.

Pod base Pods are constructed from concrete and are 10’ tall. With the exception of the restroom and the café’, pods do not have a ceiling enclosure.

Ceiling plane As before mentioned; only the café and restrooms have ceiling planes. All other pods are open to the roof of the pavilion.

Wood siding Wood siding reinforces the horizontal datum of the elevated walkway. This siding is also lit from underneath allowing the pods to be distinguishable at night.

Physical barrier Glass walls create implied boundaries for pods while maintaining the visual connection plaza visitors have to the open plaza.

Pod base Pods are constructed from concrete and are 10’ tall. With the exception of the restroom and the café’, pods do not have a ceiling enclosure.

Ceiling plane As before mentioned; only the café and restrooms have ceiling planes. All other pods are open to the roof of the pavilion.

Wood siding Wood siding reinforces the horizontal datum of the elevated walkway. This siding is also lit from underneath allowing the pods to be distinguishable at night.

Physical barrier Glass walls create implied boundaries for pods while maintaining the visual connection plaza visitors have to the open plaza.

Pod base Pods are constructed from concrete and are 10’ tall. With the exception of the restroom and the café’, pods do not have a ceiling enclosure.

SECTION: LOOKING NORTH

SECTION: LOOKING WEST

SECTION: CITY SECTION