Urban Plazas 2Urban Plazas 2

Dr. Lou MillsDr. Lou Mills

LARC4401 – Urban DesignLARC4401 – Urban Design

Aspects of Urban Life - Aspects of Urban Life - Methodologies for Urban Methodologies for Urban

Analysis Analysis ► Edges, Nodes, Landmarks, Alleys (Kevin Edges, Nodes, Landmarks, Alleys (Kevin

Lynch)Lynch)► Category of Urban Spaces- (Grady Clay)Category of Urban Spaces- (Grady Clay)► Townscapes (Gordon Cullen)- place, Townscapes (Gordon Cullen)- place,

occupied territory, possession in movement, occupied territory, possession in movement, advantage, enclaves, enclosures, focal advantage, enclaves, enclosures, focal points, precincts, etc.points, precincts, etc.

► The Last Landscape, Social Life of Small The Last Landscape, Social Life of Small Urban Spaces, City: Rediscovering the Urban Spaces, City: Rediscovering the Center (William H. WhyteCenter (William H. Whyte

What makes a Great Urban What makes a Great Urban Plaza?Plaza?

► Diversity of uses , rhythm, movementDiversity of uses , rhythm, movement► Appropriate and Optimal GeometryAppropriate and Optimal Geometry► Pedestrian Scale and priorityPedestrian Scale and priority► Adjacent Density of Land use and usersAdjacent Density of Land use and users► Historical Sense of place Historical Sense of place ► Tremendous views from and to siteTremendous views from and to site► WaterWater► Food, Fun, Work, Study optionsFood, Fun, Work, Study options► Colors, Noise, SmellsColors, Noise, Smells► Multitude of different types of space- public, semi-Multitude of different types of space- public, semi-

private, privateprivate, private► Ample seating, shade and facilitiesAmple seating, shade and facilities► Adjacent Transportation LinksAdjacent Transportation Links

Special PlacesSpecial Places

►Baltimore – Inner HarborBaltimore – Inner Harbor►Camden Yards Baseball FieldCamden Yards Baseball Field►Philadelphia- Constitution Hall PlazaPhiladelphia- Constitution Hall Plaza►Washington, D.C. –Washington, D.C. –

Pennsylvania AvenuePennsylvania Avenue Vietnam Wall MemorialVietnam Wall Memorial Capital ParkCapital Park GeorgetownGeorgetown

Baltimore’s Inner Harbor

Baltimore Camden Baltimore Camden YardYard

PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia

Independence Hall National Historic Park- Constitution Park

Washington, DCWashington, DC

Pennsylvania AvenueNavy Memorial

Vietnam Memorial

South Eastern USA PlazasSouth Eastern USA Plazas

►Peachtree Plaza- Olympic ParkPeachtree Plaza- Olympic Park► Jacksonville LandingJacksonville Landing►City of Miami WaterfrontCity of Miami Waterfront►South Beach / Miami BeachSouth Beach / Miami Beach►New Orleans – Mississippi New Orleans – Mississippi

Landing/AquariumLanding/Aquarium

Atlanta- Peachtree PlazaAtlanta- Peachtree Plaza

Miami- Miami-

Miami and South Beach

Jacksonville Landing (Fla.)Jacksonville Landing (Fla.)

New Orleans- Aquarium of the AmericasNew Orleans- Aquarium of the Americas

New Orleans – Mississippi Waterfront

Western PlazasWestern Plazas

►Ghiaradelli SquareGhiaradelli Square►Fisherman’s WharfFisherman’s Wharf►Embarcadero PlazaEmbarcadero Plaza►Portland Portland ►Getty MuseumGetty Museum►San Diego Shopping CenterSan Diego Shopping Center►Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara

Texas PlazasTexas Plazas

►Fort Worth- Sundance SquareFort Worth- Sundance Square►San Antonio River WalkSan Antonio River Walk►Fountain Place, DallasFountain Place, Dallas►Pioneer Square, DallasPioneer Square, Dallas►Fort Worth Art Museum DistrictFort Worth Art Museum District►American Airlines Sports ComplexAmerican Airlines Sports Complex►Corpus Christi WaterfrontCorpus Christi Waterfront►University of Texas, Capital Mall- AustinUniversity of Texas, Capital Mall- Austin

Outdoor Amphitheatre SpecsOutdoor Amphitheatre Specs

► Where possible build into natural bowlWhere possible build into natural bowl► Face away from late afternoon sunFace away from late afternoon sun► Aisles should be 5’wide with 30’ between aislesAisles should be 5’wide with 30’ between aisles► Backstage for set upBackstage for set up► Platform is about 18 “ off ground and min 125 Platform is about 18 “ off ground and min 125

sq.ft. About 10-20’ from first seating rowsq.ft. About 10-20’ from first seating row► Angle of seats from stage- between 60 & 90 Angle of seats from stage- between 60 & 90

DegreesDegrees► Provide for physically handicapped accessProvide for physically handicapped access