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EINVENTINGGRAND ARMY PLAZA

A PROJECT OF THE

DESIGN TRUST

FOR PUBLIC SPACEWITH THE

GRAND ARMY PLAZA

COALITION


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Visionary designs for the heart of Brooklyn

REINVENTINGRAND ARMY PLAZA


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DESIGN TRUST FOR PUBLIC SPACEhttp://designtrust.org

Copyright 2009 by the Design Trustfor Public Space. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-9777175-3-8

AUTHORSMegan CanningStephanie Elson

Chris KannenDeborah MartonEDITORMegan Canning

BOOK DESIGN

Jena SherPrinted and bound in the USAby Printcraft, Inc.

Design Trust for Public Spaceis committed to environmentally

responsible practices, includingsustainable materials and printingpractices for all printed matter.


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Contents

04 Prefaces06 About the Design Trust and GAPCo

PROJECT OVERVIEW08 Timeline09 Numbers

10 The Project11 The Competition11 The Selection Process12 The Exhibit14 Ideas Into Reality

GRAND ARMY PLAZA

THE HEART OF BROOKLYN16 History17 The Site18 Surrounding Neighborhoods19 The Community Speaks20 Response from Around the WorldTHE COMPETITION22 Competition Brief22 Competition Reuirements23 Selection Criteria24 Competition Jury

TOP 30 ENTRANTS27 Themes and Strategies

THE EXHIBIT63 Designing the Exhibit64 Building the Exhibit

66 Opening Day Celebration68 Press Conference & Awards Ceremony70 Press Coverage

72 Acknowledgments


6/7604 REINVENTING GRAND ARMY PLAZA

Designed in 1867 by Olmsted and Vaux, Grand Army Plazas mag-nicent 11-acres are home to the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch,the elegant Bailey Fountain, the Greenmarket, and the entranceto Prospect Park. Despite its identity as the historic, cultural andgeographic heart o Brooklyn, hazardous conditions orce pedestriansand cyclists to skirt the Plazas edges instead o passing through

its spectacular center, impeding access to neighborhoods, culturalinstitutions, and preventing use o the Plaza itsel. Similarly, theBrooklyn Museum, Brooklyns Central Library, the Botanic Garden,and other institutions are discouraged rom extending programminginto what is essentially their ront yard.

In 2007, the Grand Army Plaza Coalition (GAPCo) approached theDesign Trust or Public Space seeking assistance to help achievetheir vision or a saer, more usable, more beautiul Grand ArmyPlaza. As the newly ormed leader o eorts to improve the plaza,

GAPCo was keenly aware that Grand Army Plazas ull potentialas one o the worlds great urban spaces has yet to be realized. Tocatalyze Grand Army Plazas rebirth, the Design Trust and GAPColaunched Reinventing Grand Army Plaza, an open, internationalideas competition to attract visionary designs or transorming thePlaza. The best ideas rom the competition were shown at an un-precedented outdoor exhibit in the center o the Plaza in Septemberand October o 2008.

This publication was created by the Design Trust to provide a tool

or GAPCo, community members and civic leaders to galvanizesupport or a reinvention o Grand Army Plaza. It showcases topdesign schemes submitted to the competitionrom the pragmaticto the wildly inventiveand recommends steps that GAPCo andthe community can take to achieve the goal o a new master planand a comprehensive renovation. By including photos rom theexhibition, it also illustrates the sites latent power as a meeting placeor its diverse surrounding communities. While the exhibit was onview, people poured into the Plaza like never beore to considerand discuss the proposals; spirited conversations amongst interested

citizens could be heard every day. In the end, this kind o productive,communal event is what public space is all about.

The best public spaces oster a sense o civic optimism by encouragingevery individual to become more active participants in their own lives.We are condent that Grand Army Plaza will soon realize its potentialto be one o New York Citys most vibrant public orums through theeorts o GAPCo and the local community.

Deborah MartoNExecutive Director, Design Trust or Public Space

Prefaces

150 years ago, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux transormeda barren hilltop midway between Brooklyn Heights and Flatbushinto a showcase or the burgeoning City o Brooklyn. Here were laidthe critical elements o any thriving city: modern inrastructure(reservoirs, parkways, and eventually, subways), temples o high culture(the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and BrooklynPublic Library), space or natural beauty and recreation (ProspectPark), and newly developing neighborhoods (Park Slope, Prospect

Heights, and Crown Heights). All these centered deliberately on themonumental space o Grand Army Plaza. Much like the BrooklynBridge, the Grand Army Plaza area proclaimed Brooklyn to be a world-class city, elevated ar above its agrarian roots.

These elements, which include stakeholder members o the GrandArmy Plaza Coalition (GAPCo), still thrive independently today, buthistory has eroded their uniying role in cultivating Brooklyn civicpridean ethos embodied by the Plaza itsel. Regrettably, this dis-unity has rendered Grand Army Plaza into a mere trac circle.

Although GAPCo began in 2006 addressing Grand Army Plazasdeciencies as a trac circle, we soon uncovered its lost purpose asthe hub o Brooklyn. We determined to restore the centrality o thePlaza to the lie o Brooklyn, to re-animate it not as a acsimile owhat it was, but as the embodiment o Brooklyns 21st centuryidentity. The Design Trust or Public Space immediately grasped thisvision; their leadership moved GAPCo closer to achieving our goals.The incredibly varied concepts in this book all demonstrate howthoughtul design modications and new programming can revitalize

Grand Army Plaza. The members o GAPCo want a Grand ArmyPlaza that brings and holds Brooklyn together, and this book atteststo a tremendous leap orward in our progress.

robert WitherWaxCoordinator, The Grand Army Plaza Coalition


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About the Design Trust & GAPCo

DesigN trust For PubLiC sPaCeThe Design Trust or Public Space is a 501(c)(3) not-or-prot committed to improvingthe quality and understanding o New YorkCitys public realmrom parks, plazasand streets to public buildings and modeso transportation. The Design Trust is theonly New York City organization devoted to

bringing private sector expertise to bear onpublic-space issues. Since 1995, the DesignTrust has successully completed overtwo-dozen projects, improving the urbanexperience or all New Yorkers.

Each year, the Design Trust selects researchand design projects rom across the veboroughs. These projects are at the earlieststage, when targeted expertise can transorm

critical policy and development decisions.We organize teams o top architects, planners,industrial designers, landscape architects,graphic designerswhoever may be requiredto tackle the projectand provide ellow-ships to und their work. However, we will notinaugurate a project without the collabora-tion o the city agency or community groupbest situated to implement the designsand plans we develop.

http://designtrust.org/

gaPCoThe Grand Army Plaza Coalition (GAPCo) isan alliance o Brooklyn community groupsand cultural organizations working togetherto improve Grand Army Plaza. GAPCo believesthat Grand Army Plaza, despite its physicaland cultural centrality to Brooklyn, missesits potential as one o the worlds great

urban spaces.

http://www.grandarmyplaza.org/

Coalition members include:

Brooklyn Botanic GardenBrooklyn Greenway InitiativeBrooklyn MuseumBrooklyn Public LibraryCitizens Committee or NYC

Brooklyn Community Boards 6 and 8Eastern Parkway/Cultural RowNeighborhood Association

Gowanus Community Stakeholder GroupGrand Army Plaza GreenmarketHeart o BrooklynNorth Flatbush Avenue BIDThe Open Planning ProjectPark Slope Civic CouncilPark Slope Neighbors

Project or Public SpacesProspect Heights NeighborhoodDevelopment Council

Prospect Heights Parent AssociationProspect Park AllianceTransportation Alternatives


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PROJECTOVERVIEW

GRAND ARMY PLAZA IS THE BUSIEST TRAFFIC CIRCLE

IN BROOKLYN. IT IS ALSO PARKS PROPERTY, ORIGINALLYDESIGNED BY OUR NATIONS PREEMINENT LANDSCAPEARCHITECTS, FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED AND CALVERTVAUX. THE DESIGN TRUSTS PROJECT WILL HELP GRANDARMY PLAZA BECOME A THRIVING GATHERING SPACEDESCRIBED BY OLMSTED AND VAUXS ORIGINAL DESIGN.THE INNOVATIVE GOALS OF THIS PROJECT ARE FULLY INLINE WITH THOSE OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, AS WELLAS THOSE OF THE MAYORS PLANYC INITIATIVE. WEARE PLEASED TO BE INVOLVED.ADRIAN BENEPE, COMMISSIONER, NYC DEPT. OF PARKS AND RECREATION



Project Timeline

sePteMber 2007GAPCo presents their project proposal to theDesign Trusts Project Selection Jury; theirproject is selected or Design Trust partnership

NoveMber 2007Steering Committee is ormed or the Rein-venting Grand Army Plazaproject, comprised

o representatives rom the NYC Dept. oTransportation, NYC Dept. o Parks & Recreation,GAPCo and Design Trust

JaNuary 2008Design Trust sta conducts neighborhoodeld surveys and on-the-street interviewsin Prospect-Leerts Gardens, Park Slope,Prospect Heights, and Crown Heights

February 2008Reinventing Grand Army PlazaIdeas Compet-ition is launched

Design Trust presents the project to CommunityBoard 6, Transportation Committee

aPriL 2008Submission deadline or the ReinventingGrand Army PlazaIdeas Competition

Competition jury begins the online reviewprocess

May 2008Design Trust, in collaboration with the Centeror Urban Pedagogy, leads students romthe Bushwick Academy o Urban Planningon a site visit to Grand Army Plaza

Design Trust presents the project to CommunityBoard 8


JuNe 2008Competition Jury convenes at the mainbranch o the Brooklyn Public Library



JuLyaugust 2008 Center or Urban Pedagogy class at BrooklynCollege ocusing on Grand Army PlazasePteMber 2008Exhibit opens to the public in Grand Army

Plaza; press conerence and awards ceremonyis held with local ocials to announce the3 winners o the competition

oCtober 2008Peoples Choice Award winner is announcedon the 8th; exhibit closes on the 13th


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11 1/2 cmake up Grand Army Plaza

48,000 clpass through Grand Army Plaza every day

M n 300,000 ppllive in the 4 surrounding neighborhoods:

Crown Heights, Park Slope, ProspectHeights and Prospect-Leerts Gardens

9 mmon the competition jury

481 pcpnregistered or the Reinventing Grand ArmyPlazaideas competition

319 pplwere initiated

200 pplwere submitted

1029 dwnwere uploaded to the competition website

24 cn

were represented

272 pplsubmitted a proposal

30 pplwere chosen by the jury or the publicexhibition

6 pjc

proposed closing the gap between ProspectPark and Grand Army Plaza

Project Numbers

o 100,000 ppljoined in the opening day estivities othe public exhibit

1,854 pplvoted or the Peoples Choice Award(1,393 voted online and 461 voted bytext message)

1 pjcproposed an aerial lit to connect peopleto Prospect Park

7 pjcproposed opening up the berms to thepublic

5 pjc

proposed removing the berms altogether

6 pjcproposed pushing all trac to the Plazasedge and expanding the center oval

1 pjcproposed a water mist screen or lmprojection

3 pwere awarded to 4 teams (tie or rst)

3 f 4 pwnnwere rom France

1 pwnnhailed rom Brooklyn

14 8 c

were abricated or the public exhibit


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12 REINVENTING GRAND ARMY PLAZA

From September 13 through October 13, 2008, plans by the 30nalists were exhibited in a ree, outdoor, large-scale exhibition inthe center o Grand Army Plaza. Designed by Pentagram, the exhibitwas the rst temporary public installation o any kind to be mountedaround the Bailey Fountain. An assembly o 14 large cubes measuring8 by 8 eet ormed a rectangle around the ountain; each cube dis-played inormation about the community and the competition, alongwith images rom the 30 nalists schemes.

This unprecedented public exhibit allowed New Yorkers to join someo the worlds top design proessionals in re-imagining Grand ArmyPlaza while standing right on site. On the exhibits opening day, crowdspoured into the center o Grand Army Plaza like never beorearrivingby oot, bicycle, stroller, roller blades, skateboard and car to see thecompetition entries and enjoy music and dance perormances. Thispowerul public response demonstrated unequivocally the Plazasuntapped potential as a venue or public events.

The Exhibit

left to right:Reinventing GrandArmy Plaza exhibit surroundingthe Bailey Fountain, in the centerof Grand Army Plaza

top right:Visitors on opening day


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top left:A view of the exhibitand the Soldiers and SailorsMemorial Arch

bottom left:Reinventing GrandArmy Plaza exhibit surroundingthe Bailey Fountain

top right:The exhibit was lit atnight via solar-powered lightshoused within the cubes (ChrisKannen for the Design Trust

for Public Space)

bottom right:Designersexplaining their submissions toexhibit visitors on opening day


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The Reinventing Grand Army Plazaideas competition elicited per-suasive visions or the Plazas redesign, laying the groundwork ora Plaza that will be more beautiul, support a range o public events,and provide saer and easier access or pedestrians, motorists andcyclists alike. Presenting these visions publicly through the exhibitto local communities and to city agents responsible or the siteachieved multiple goals.

Perhaps most importantly, this project awakened a sense o possibility.Notwithstanding recent incremental improvements, Grand ArmyPlaza has long occupied its current conguration. Public uses havebeen largely passive, with the exception o the Green Market, andhave been limited to those willing to brave continuous hazardoustrac surrounding the beautiul central oval. For the most part, localcommunities evinced no awareness that a comprehensive renovationo the Plaza was possible, or that it could lead to an improved qualityo lie. Although community outreach by the Design Trust revealedgeneral pride in the Plazas appearance, there was no sense that an

improved Plaza could play an important role in helping surroundingresidents inhabit their own lives more ully. This limited sense o thePlazas capacities included the many proximate cultural institutions,

Ideas Into Reality

which were not extending their programming into the Plaza. TheReinventing Grand Army PlazaExhibit demonstrated how a compel-ling public event would draw visitors to the Plaza, even undercurrent trac conditions.

Reinventing Grand Army Plazasmany site proposalsand the successo the exhibit itselconvincingly made the case or a comprehensiveredevelopment o a scale ar beyond the piecemeal improvements

undertaken in recent years. Since the exhibit, the Design Trust andthe Grand Army Plaza Coalition have continued their eorts to movethis project rom ideas into reality. The ultimate goal is to securecapital unding or a comprehensive renovation o the Plaza that in-tegrates pedestrian and vehicular trac with the Plazas open spacesin a sae, seamless, and beautiul way.

GAPCo should continue building on the relationship orged throughthis project to spearhead an eort urging the City o New York tomake a renovation o Grand Army Plaza a priority or the upcoming

year. At the same time, eorts should be made to communicate theneed or this renovation to city, state, and ederal elected ocials,and to seek their support or a capital allocation.

A capital allocation or the ull renovation would include unding ordesign. However, GAPCo may wish to undertake private undraisingto support creation o a preliminary design by a design rm it selectsindependently. This preliminary design could be a schematic plan,which is the rst phase o a master plan. It could also take the ormo a circulation plan, which looks more narrowly at the fow o move-

ment, including cars, bicycles, and pedestrians. Ideally, any site proposalwould be supported by a trac study, statistically analyzing theschemes easibility in terms o trac volumes and fow. The Depart-ment o Transportation would need to conduct, or collaborate on,such a trac study.

A GAPCo-generated community vision or the Plaza would stronglysend the message that the Grand Army Plaza community will be aconstructive partner in the renovation. It would also establish GAPCoas the owner o the vision, and as a practical matter, the client in

any renovation process. By taking this rst visioning step independento a capital allocation, GAPCo could demonstrate its leadership andset the design bar high or this remarkable site.

above:Michael Cairl from theGrand Army Plaza Coalitionspeaking with exhibit visitorsabout the future of the Plaza


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GRANDARMY PLAZATHE HEARTOF BROOKLYNAS THE GATEWAY TO PROSPECT PARK AND THE HEART

OF BROOKLYNS UNIqUE CULTURAL CAMPUS, GRANDARMY PLAZA SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ITS NATURALAND ARCHITECTURAL BEAUTY, RICH HISTORY, AND LOCA-TION TO WELCOME VISITORS AND CONNECT RESIDENTSOF THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIESWE ARE THRILLEDTO BE WORKING WITH THE DESIGN TRUST FOR PUBLICSPACE AND THE GRAND ARMY PLAZA COALITION ONREINVENTING GRAND ARMY PLAZA, A PROJECT THAT WILL

REVITALIZE AND TRANSFORM GRAND ARMY PLAZA INTOONE OF NEW YORK CITYS PREMIER COMMUNITY SPACES.ELLEN SALPETER, DIRECTOR, HEART OF BROOKLYN


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Grand Army Plaza has always been Brooklyns crossroads. DuringNative American times, the primary trail between arming communitiesin Brooklyns south and river-oriented communities in the north ranthrough Grand Army Plaza, along the route o todays Flatbush Avenue.In the mid-19th century, civic leaders transormed the barren prom-ontory that is now Grand Army Plaza into a haven or civic amenities,catalyzing change in Brooklyns geographic, social and cultural core.

Mount Prospect (just east o the Plaza) became the citys reservoir;the land surrounding it ultimately included the boroughs mostsignicant cultural institutions. As construction o Prospect Park began,so did construction o new neighborhoods: Park Slope, ProspectHeights, and Crown Heights. City planners laid out Prospect ParkWest, Plaza Street, Union Street and Eastern Parkway.

History


Grand Army Plaza was the hub o these civic enterprises, and thegeographic and cultural heart o Brooklyn. Accordingly, the Plaza wasdesigned by amed landscape designers Frederick Law Olmsted andCalvert Vaux to be a parade ground and central gathering space or allsurrounding community activities. The Plaza was also created to bethe ormal entrance to Prospect ParkOlmsted and Vauxs solutionto the problem o integrating the bucolic park with the hurly-burly oBrooklyn trac.

At rst the Plaza eatured only a simple ountain surrounded by berms(raised earth mounds). It became more grand over time, with theadditions o the Soldiers and Sailors Arch (1892), the equestriansculptures atop the arch (1901), Stanord Whites eagle-topped columns(1896), and the Bailey Fountain (1932the ourth ountain at thatlocation). Originally known as The Plaza and then Prospect ParkPlaza, the name Grand Army Plaza was ormally bestowed in1926 to mark the 60th anniversary o the end o the Civil War.

Trac saety was a problem in the Plaza since wheels hit its roadways;in the 1920s the Plaza hosted a 20-oot tall Death-O-Meter thatreported trac-related atalities on the Plaza and in Brooklyn. Today,Grand Army Plaza remains Brooklyns largest and busiest traccircle, sitting at the junction o 5 major roadsFlatbush Avenue,Vanderbilt Avenue, Eastern Parkway, Prospect Park West, and UnionStreet. With approximately 4,000 cars passing through each hour,its most obvious duty is trac distributor.

However, beyond the trac, amenities within and around the Plaza

are astounding. The main branch o the Brooklyn Public Libraryanchors the southeast corner, pointing up Eastern Parkway towardthe Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Brooklyn Museum. ProspectPark, Olmsted and Vauxs masterpiece, beckons. The prolierationo elegant 19th century brownstone homes in the vibrant adjacentneighborhoods, and the 20th century apartment buildings ringingPlaza Street, testiy to the areas appeal, as does the success o theGreen Market, the Holiday Lights, and the various other programmedevents within the Plaza.

top left:Historic photoof the Soldiers andSailors MemorialArch, Grand Army Plaza(Picture Collection, TheBranch Libraries, The

New York Public Library,

Astor, Lenox and Tilden

Foundations)

miDDle:Looking from thePlaza towards ProspectHeights, with theBrooklyn Public Library inthe distance.

top right:Historicphoto of Grand ArmyPlaza, 1926 (MilsteinDivision of United

States History, LocalHistory & Geneology,

The New York Public

Library, Astor, Lenox

and Tilden Foundations)

bottom:Aerial viewof Grand Army Plaza,2008 (Ethan Kentfor Project for Public

Spaces)


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The Plaza consists o 4 concentric ellipses: Plaza Street and its build-ings, the berms, the avenues and major interchanges, and the centralislands. Along the outermost ellipse, Plaza Streets West and East,stately apartment houses o various vintage gaze placidly across thequiet residential street to Vauxs innovative berms. These bermsprovide a visual and aural barrier, protecting apartment dwellers romthe trac noise o the major through-streetsFlatbush Avenue andVanderbilt Avenuethat run within the berms ellipse. These avenues

cut through the Plaza Street ellipse rom the north, cross each other,and run on to the expanse o pavement at the south end o the Plaza,where they meet Eastern Parkway, Union Street, and Prospect ParkWest. Nestled within this Vanderbilt/Flatbush ellipse is the nal ellipsethe central island, containing both the Bailey Fountain and theSoldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch (this area is commonly butinaccurately reerred to as Grand Army Plaza).

All entrants to the Reinventing Grand Army Plazaideas competitionwere provided with comprehensive resources and materials to help

them understand the challenges and opportunities presentedby current site conditions. A base map (see right) illustrated sitetopography, and indicated every bench, tree, shrub, and pavingtype throughout the sites 11+ acres.

Entrants were also provided with Department o City Planning geo-graphic inormation or the Plazas surrounding neighborhoods, includ-ing street lines and tax blocks, as well as panoramic photos o thePlaza taken rom 25 dierent perspectives throughout the site (theseresources are still online, and can be ound on the competition

website: http://designtrust.org/projects/gap/resources/).

To date, a signicant barrier to reworking Grand Army Plaza holisti-cally has been the act that its 11 acres are controlled and managedby two dierent New York City agencies: the Department o Parks andRecreation (Parks) and the Department o Transportation (DOT). Parksmanages the Arch, central oval, and berms, while DOT determinestrac patterns, maintains roads, controls signals and signs, andmanages small pedestrian islands. Further, the Plaza lies at the bordero three City Council Districts, three Community Boards, and ourdistinct neighborhoods. Consequently, no single agency or jurisdic-tional entity has undertaken the kind o comprehensive evaluationand redesign that would be necessary to realize the Plazas potential.

The Site

above:Base map of Grand ArmyPlaza (Prospect Park Alliance)


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Surrounding Neighborhoods


Grand Army Plaza sits at the confuence o several diverse neighbor-hoods. As a public space, reely and equally available to all, thePlaza is uniquely positioned to be a communal space or surroundingcommunities. However, saety concerns and conusing circulationpatterns encourage users to skirt the Plazas edges, instead o movingthrough its center. To date, public events have been largely limitedto the Green Market, whose success is a testament to the Plazasutility as a gathering space.

Over 300,000 people live in the three Community Board districtsbordering Grand Army Plaza. Thats the equivalent o Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania; Bualo, New York; or Anchorage, Alaska. Not only areBrooklyn Community Boards 6, 8 and 9 dense, they are noticeablydiversemore than one in three residents o these neighborhoodsare oreign-born (16.4%, 30.4% and 46.2% respectively). In additionto calling Brooklyn home, the people who live near Grand Army Plazacan do the same or Barbados, Canada, China, Colombia, Cuba, theDominican Republic, Ghana, Guyana, Haiti, Italy, Jamaica, Trinidad

and Tobago, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama, Russia and the United Kingdom.

BROOKLYN

QUEENS

MANHATTAN

BRONX

STATEN ISLAND

EASTERNPARKWAY

UNIONSTREET

9THSTREET

FLATBUSHAVENUE

4TH

AVENUE

BEDFORD

AVEN

UE

PROSPEC

TPARK

WEST

BROOKLYN

PUBLIC

LIBRARY

BROOKLYN

BOTANICALGARDENSPROSPECT

PARK

PARKSLOPE

BOERUM

HILL

CROWNHEIGHTS

PROSPECTLEFFERTSGARDENS

FORT

GREENE CLINTONHILL

BED-STUY

GAP

GAP

WIDTH OF MAP IS 26.3 MILES WIDTH OF MAP IS 9.4 MILES

7THAVEN

UE

FLATBUSHAVENUE

VANDERB

ILT

AVENUE

WASHINGTONAVENUE

GRAND

ARMYP

LAZA

BROOKLYN

MUSEUM

OF ART

ATLANTICAVENUE

BROOKLYN

BATTERY TUNNEL

WILLIAMSBURG

BRIDGE

ATLANTICAVE.

OC E A NP A RKWA Y

SHOREPARKWAY

LINDENBLVD

.

BROOKLYNBRIDGE

MANHATTAN

BRIDGE

FLATBUSH

AVE.

EXPWY

BROO

KLYN

QUEEN

S

JACKIE

ROBINSONEX

PWY

PROSPECTHEIGHTS

WIDTH OF MAP IS 1.15 MILES

DOWNTOWNBROOKLYN

N N

N

above:Ilustrated maps showingGrand Army Plazas contextwithin NYC and the surroundingneighborhoods (ClaudiaBrandenburg/Language Arts)

left column, top left to right:Prospect-Lefferts Gardens;Crown Heights

left column, bottom left to right:Park Slope; Prospect Heights (allphotos by Leslie McBeth for the

Design Trust for Public Space)


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The Community Speaks

In January 2008, the Design Trust sta surveyed area residents, localbusiness owners, community groups and local elected ocials abouttheir thoughts, rustrations, and dreams or the Plaza. A small selectiono their responses are included below:

W pnl ppn f Pl m dnncp?

GRAND ARMY PLAZA HAS TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL TO ACT AS A PUBLICMEETING SPACE AND A PEACEFUL REPRIEVE FROM URBAN LIFE. HOWEVER,TODAY IT IS DISJOINTED FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD BY A TANGLE OFSTREETS AND INTERSECTIONS THAT MUST BE MODIFIED TO WELCOME PARKVISITORS TRAVELING BY FOOT AND BICYCLE. THE PLAZA, THE ARCH, ANDPROSPECT PARK SHOULD SERVE AS A CONTINUOUS SPACE CONNECTEDBY PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY PATHS. LANDSCAPING AROUND THE PLAZA SHOULDBE DESIGNED TO MAXIMIZE STORMWATER RETENTION. VISIBILITY TO BAILEYFOUNTAIN SHOULD BE IMPROVED TO BETTER ESTABLISH IT AS A FOCALPOINT OF THE PLAZA AND INCREASE THE SAFETY OF PARK USERS.

CHERYL HUBER, RESEARCH DIRECTOR, NEW YORKERS FOR PARKS, ANDNEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENT

THE EXPANSION OF THE GREEN MARKET, POSSIBLY INTO THE CENTEROF THE PLAZA. THE CREATION OF PROGRAMMED EVENTS IN THE HEART OFTHE PLAZA. THE POSSIBLE CREATION OF AN EATERY IN THE CENTER OF THEPLAZA, LA THE SHAKE SHACK IN MADISON SqUARE PARK. MOVIE NIGHTS, LA BRYANT PARK, WITH A BIG SCREEN SUSPENDED FROM THE ARCH. THEPOSSIBILITIES ARE LIMITED ONLY BY THE EXTENT OF OUR IMAGINATIONS.ERIC MCCLURE, PARK SLOPE NEIGHBORS

GRAND ARMY PLAZA IS HARD TO NAVIGATE AND ITSERVES AS A BARRIER BETWEEN CROWN HEIGHTS ANDPARK SLOPE. BUT ITS BEAUTIFUL. DURING THE HOLIDAYS,WALKING AROUND THE PLAZA, IT FEELS LIKE PARIS.CLAIRE, CROWN HEIGHTS RESIDENT

W n plm cld ddd Pl dn?THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED, IN MY OPINION,IS PEDESTRIAN ACCESS TO AND THROUGH THE PLAZAS HEART. FOOTTRAFFIC IS DISCOURAGED BY POOR DESIGN. BUT THE BEST WAY TOREDISCOVER THE CURRENT PLAZAS ASSETS IS TO WALK THROUGH IT,FROM VARIOUS ANGLES, FROM MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES. WITHOUTIMPROVED FOOT TRAFFIC, WITHOUT GETTING PEO PLE TO USE THE SPACE,THERE IS NO POINT IN ADDING ANY VALUE TO THE HEART OF THE PLAZA.ROB WITHERWAX, COORDINATOR, GRAND ARMY PLAZA COALITION

PEDESTRIAN ACCESS TO GRAND ARMY PLAZA SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.IF THE PLAZA IS TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, TRAFFIC-CALMINGMEASURES ARE REqUIRED. TRAFFIC CIRCULATION AND CURRENT SIG-NAGE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY AND EASETRAFFIC CONGESTION. LANDSCAPING INCLUDING BENCHES, SIDEWALKTREATMENT, AND TRAFFIC TRIANGLES SHOULD BE IMPROVED UPON.MICHAEL CETERA, PARK COMMITTEE CHAIR, COMMUNITY BOARD 9(INCLUDES PROSPECT-LEFFERTS GARDENS AND PART OF CROWN HEIGHTS)

A competition winner speakingwith a local resident


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272 eNtraNts

FroM 24 CouNtriesArgentina, Australia, Austria,Belgium, Canada, China,Columbia, Czech Republic,Egypt, France, Germany,Greece, Indonesia, Israel,Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico,Netherlands, Portugal,Russia, Spain, UK, USA

aND 88 Cities7 Buenos Aires, Argentina1 Sydney, Australia1 Stratheld, Australia1 St.Plten, Austria1 Borgerhout, Belgium1 Antwerp, Belgium

Response from Around the World

1 Brussels, Belgium5 Toronto, Canada1 Montreal, Canada2 Longueuil, Canada1 Kitchener Waterloo, Canada1 Shanghai, China3 Medellin, Columbia1 Jesenik, Czech Republic1 Egypt13 Paris, France5 Nantes, France1 Strasburg, France1 Les Lilas, France1 Tours, France1 Hagen, Germany1 Berlin, Germany2 Thessaloniki, Greece3 Depok, Indonesia2 Jakarta, Indonesia

1 Claremont, Caliornia1 Davis, Caliornia1 Los Angeles, Caliornia1 San Francisco, Caliornia1 Venice, Caliornia1 Aspen, Colorado1 Cheshire, Connecticut2 Marbledale, Connecticut1 Destin, Florida1 Miami, Florida1 Athens, Georgia4 Atlanta, Georgia1 Marietta, Georgia1 Boston, Massachusetts4 Cambridge, Massachusetts6 Somerville, Massachusetts1 Wayland, Massachusetts1 Minneapolis, Minnesota1 Asheville, N. Carolina1 Brevard, N. Carolina13 Charlotte, N. Carolina1 Wilmington, N. Carolina1 Edgewater, New Jersey2 Jersey City, New Jersey1 South Amboy, New Jersey55 Brooklyn, New York4 Ithaca, New York,1 New Rochelle, New York50 Manhattan, New York1 Ossining, New York1 Pittsord, New York1 Staten Island, New York1 Syracuse, New York1 Granville, Ohio1 Pataskala, Ohio4 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania1 Rock Hill, S. Carolina1 Arlington, Texas1 Bryan, Texas6 College Station, Texas1 Houston, Texas1 Seattle, Washington1 Milwaukee, Wisconsin

1 Hia, Israel3 Bologna, Italy3 Dueville-Vicenza, Italy1 Cagliari, Italy1 Saitama-Ken, Japan3 Seoul, Korea1 Corregidora, Mexico1 Utrecht, The Netherlands1 Porto, Portugal1 Lea da Palmeira, Portugal1 Caldas da Rainha, Portugal1 Rostov-on-Don, Russia3 Madrid, Spain1 Dublin, Ireland, UK4 London, Great Britain1 Bristol, Great Britain2 North Lanarkshire, Scotland1 Glasgow, Scotland1 Scottsdale, Arizona

THE


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THEREINVENTINGGRAND ARMYPLAZACOMPETITIONGRAND ARMY PLAZA IS MUCH MORE THAN AN ENTRANCE

TO PROSPECT PARK AND THE CONFLUENCE OF SEVERALMAJOR ROADS, IT IS A DESTINATION IN AND OF ITSELF.JANETTE SADIK-KHAN, COMMISSIONER, NYC DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION

C i i B i f R i


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Extensive brieng materials were assembled or competition entrantsdescribing the physical qualities o the site as well as inormationon the surrounding neighborhoods social and cultural characteristics.The 30-page Brieng Book included the ollowing:

Inormation on the purpose and procedures o the competition Site Description History Neighborhood Proles Community Voices Resources and Base maps (included autocad base maps, site images,

GPS links, Department o Transportation trac counts, and more) Schedule, Fees, Submission Requirements Who Can Enter Application Process Deadlines and Rules Exhibition and Publication Awards Jury

Competition Brief

Who CouLD eNterThe Reinventing Grand Army Plazaideas competition was open to allinterested entrants. Individuals, teams, proessionals, students, artistsand others were all encouraged to contribute their visions. There wasa required $30 ee to enter.

subMissioN requireMeNtsAll entrants were required to submit their proposal digitally through the

competition website. All entrants had to submit a project description,their design philosophy, and our drawings, renderings or images. Anymedium could be employed to produce these images. Required imagesincluded:

1. Site Plan2. Representative Section3. Perspective4. Perspective

Four additional images were permitted, but not required. These imagescould include details o key design elements (plans, sections, elevations,etc.), additional sections or perspectives, or other representationsthat help communicate key design principles.

Reuirements

S l ti C it i


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Selection Criteria

The best public spaces allow you to be yourselan independent humanbeing with a unique vision o the worldwhile also communicating themessage that you are a valued and important member o the larger com-munity. To achieve this goal, designers and planners rely on criteriato evaluate whether a particular public space will be successul.

The Reinventing Grand Army Plazacompetition jury used the criteriadescribed here in their review o the competition entries.

Does this sCheMe iMProve graND arMy PLazas:Ccln: enabling all users (vehicular, pedestrian, bicycle, etc.)to move saely and easily through and within the Plaza

Cnnc: providing links and easy passage rom the Plaza tosurrounding neighborhoods, and rom one area within the Plazato another

b: giving pleasure to the mind and senses

Nl sm: integrating natural phenomenon and systemslikestormwater runo, plant communities, animal migrationswith thePlazas human uses

Pm: creating new services, opportunities, or activities or visitors

D: increasing the Plazas capacity to serve a range o users

Cnl: strengthening the Plazas connection to its cultural,historical, or physical context

onl/C: bringing something new or innovative

above:The Jury Criteria panelfrom the exhibit

C titi J


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The jury included planners, landscape architects, designers, artists,community activists, city ocials, local residents, and communitystakeholders. The members o the jury were:

JoNathaN butLereDitor, broWNstoNer.CoMJonathan Butler is the ounder and editor o Brownstoner.com, theleading blog about Brooklyn real estate, architecture and preservation.Launched in October 2004, the blog currently attracts about 100,000readers a month. In April 2008, Jonathan launched Brooklyn Flea,the largest fea market in Brooklyn, on a 40,000-square-oot lot inFort Greene. Prior to starting Brownstoner, Jonathan spent a decadeas a journalist, venture capitalist and real estate investor. He has a BAin History rom Princeton University and an MBA rom NYUs SternSchool o Business. He currently resides in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn withhis wie and two children.

eLizabeth MeyerassoC. ProFessor, LaNDsCaPe arChiteCture,uNiv. oF virgiNiaElizabeth Meyer is an associate proessor and ormer LandscapeArchitecture Department Chair at the University o Virginia. Previously,Meyer taught at Harvard and Cornell. She is nationally recognized asan outstanding scholar and teacher, with honors and awards rom theCouncil o Educators in Landscape Architecture, the American Societyo Landscape Architects, and the University o Virginia. Ms. Meyeris a Fellow o the American Society o Landscape Architects, and aregistered landscape architect who worked or EDAW and Hanna/Olin

in the 1980s. Since then, she has consulted with several landscapearchitecture rms including Michael Vergason, Alexandria, Virginia,and Van Valkenburgh Associates, Cambridge.

beNJaMiN g. PerezseNior ProFessioNaL assoCiate,ParsoNs briNCkerhoFFSenior Proessional Associate with Parsons Brinckerho, BenjaminPerez oers over 20 years o experience in transportation planning andpolicy. He has led master planning eorts in the United States andabroad and completed important research assignments or the FederalHighway Administration, Transportation Research Board, the AmericanCouncil o Consulting Engineers and the National Cooperative HighwayResearch Program. He is a national expert in the use o roadway pricingas a means to manage congestion. He has served as project manageror the rst technical investigation o congestion pricing in New YorkCity and is the author o several resource documents on tolling, pricing,and managed lanes. He holds a M.S. in Urban Planning rom ColumbiaUniversity and is a member o the American Institute o CertiedPlanners. He is a 20-year resident o Park Slope and Prospect Heights,the last 11 o which have been spent on Grand Army Plaza.

MiLtoN PuryearFouNDer aND trustee,brookLyN greeNWay iNitiativeMilton Puryear is a co-ounder and consultant to Brooklyn GreenwayInitiative (BGI), dedicated to creating continuous waterront accessalong ourteen miles o Brooklyns waterront where there has been

Competition Jury


photoS:Reinventing Grand ArmyPlaza competition jury, BrooklynPublic Library, Summer 2008(Leslie McBeth for the Design

Trust for Public Space)


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no public access since the early 1990s. Recognizing a window oopportunity in transitions in land use, he helped build a broad-basedconsensus or a greenway to connect multiple waterront neighborhoodsand new waterront parks. He is currently co-chair o the interagencyTechnical Advisory Committee that coordinates agency participation inthe project and is coordinating nal phases o planning and comm-encement o design o the rst 6 miles o the route.

eLLeN saLPeterDireCtor, heart oF brookLyNEllen F. Salpeter has almost two decades o not-or-prot experiencein arts and culture. As the ounding Director o Heart o Brooklyn,Ms. Salpeter is requently asked to share strategies with other culturalclusters that recognize the power o partnership. She is also soughtater to moderate panels and discussions on issues in contemporaryart and culture. Ms. Salpeter has stewarded the organization throughits start-up phase including major community, commercial revitaliza-tion and consumer research projects. Ms. Salpeter received a Bacheloro Science in Business Administration rom Georgetown University.

keN sMithkeN sMith LaNDsCaPe arChiteCtsKen Smith is a landscape architect who has worked on a wide varietyo national and international projects, in both private and public practice.His background and training is in landscape architecture and in thene arts. His interests include landscape design o varying scale, witha particular emphasis on projects that explore the symbolic contentand expressive power o landscape as an art orm. He is committed tocreating landscapes, especially parks and other public spaces, withvision and meaning as a way o improving the quality o urban lie.Educated at Iowa State University and Harvard University GraduateSchool o Design, his practice is based in New York City. He is activeas an educator and serves as a Visiting Lecturer at Harvard UniversityGraduate School o Design.

eLizabeth strebstreb Laboratory For aCtioN MeChaNiCsElizabeth Streb was awarded a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthurFoundation Genius Award in 1997. She holds a B.S. in ModernDance rom SUNY Brockport rom which she has received an honorarydoctorate o ne arts as well. Elizabeth Streb is the recipient o

numerous other awards and ellowships including the GuggenheimFellowship in 1987; a Brandeis Creative Arts Award in 1991; twoNew York Dance and Perormance Awards (Bessie Awards). Oncecalled the Evel Knievel o dance, Elizabeth Strebs choreography,which she calls PopAction, intertwines the disciplines o dance,athletics, boxing, rodeo, the circus, and Hollywood stunt-work. In2003 Streb established S.L.A.M. in Brooklyn, NY. S.L.A.M.s door isliterally open or the community to come in and watch rehearsals,take classes and learn to fy.

MiChaeL vaN vaLkeNburghMiChaeL vaN vaLkeNburgh assoCiates, iNC.As lead principal o MVVA Inc., with oces in New York City andCambridge, Michael Van Valkenburgh has designed a wide range oproject types including public parks like Teardrop Park and BrooklynBridge Park in New York City. Van Valkenburgh was a Design Fellowat the American Academy in Rome and has been the recipient o severalASLA design awards including the Presidents Top Design Award orhis Alumnae Valley Restoration in 2006. Van Valkenburgh has taughtat the Harvard Graduate School o Design since 1982. He receiveda BS in landscape architecture rom Cornell University and an MLArom the University o Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In 2008, YaleUniversity Press published a book on the work o MVVA, edited byAnita Berrizbeitia.

aLexaNDros e. WashburNChieF urbaN DesigNer, NyC DePt. oF City PLaNNiNgAlexandros E. Washburn, AIA, is the Chie Urban Designer o the Cityo New York, Department o City Planning. His approach to urbandesign combines both architecture and landscape architecture in ausion o ecology and urbanism. He is a proessional architect whoserm, W Architecture and Landscape Architecture, practices world-wide. He has an undergraduate major in biology rom UNC Chapel Hilland a Masters o Architecture rom Harvard University. In 2006, he wasasked to join the Bloomberg administration as Chie Urban Designerat the Department o City Planning. Alex lives with his amily in RedHook, Brooklyn and is currently writing a book, The Nature ofUrban Design.

TOP 30


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TOP 30ENTRANTS

WE SAW HOW GREAT A PLACE IT WAS WITH THE HISTOR-ICAL CHARGE AND THE URBAN POSSIBILITIES IN IT, BUTWE ALSO SAW THAT THESE POSSIBILITIES ARE A LITTLEBIT UNDERVALUED TODAY. SO THATS WHY WE WEREVERY HAPPY TO SEE THE COMPETITION. . . . SO THE MAJORTHING, IF WE WANT TO REINVENT GAP, FIRST OF ALL,IS WE HAVE TO REINVENT ITS CIRCULATION. WITHOUT

ADDRESSING CIRCULATION I DONT THINK WEVE REALLYRESOLVED THE PROBLEM OF GAP.ANDRAS JAMBOR, 2ND PLACE PRIZE WINNER

Themes and Strategies


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Themes and Strategies

aLMost every CoMPetitioN eNtry aDDresseDthree MaiN site ChaLLeNges:1. Improving site circulation or pedestrians, bicycles and vehicles2. Creating new space and/or amenities to host site programs3. Improving utilization o the space taken up by the berms (raisedearth mounds currently occupying 4 acresover 1/3o the site)

Within the participants diverse, varied proposals, we identieda number o recurring strategies. In the projects next phase, thesestrategies will be the subject o urther study and their potentialsite impacts will be analyzed.

Ccln (pdn, ccl, nd cl) Close the gap between the Arch and the Park Widen crosswalks and make them more visible Strategically re-appropriate and/or close road suraces Dedicate Plaza Streets East and West to non-vehicular trac Direct all local trac to Plaza Streets East and West Allow temporary (weekend), non-vehicular occupation o roadway Build tunnels or vehicular trac Reorganize trac fow in all one direction or make two-way

(particularly Flatbush as the one north/south vehicle axis) Create a conventional trac circle Add more trac signals Create trac-calming paving treatments Build an elevated pedestrian promenade or underpass

Pm Threshold or Prospect Park Ca Outdoor movie space Pedestrian promenade Amphitheatre Permanent greenmarket home Community gardens Bike exchange station Stormwater collection point Brooklyn tourist inormation hub

bm Remove Occupy with program Use or tracabove or below ground Cut through or paths

Anchoring Grand Army Plaza to Brooklyn


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eMiLie grahaMNeW york, Ny, usa

A wide pedestrian promenade stretchesrom the Park through the Plaza. Berms areremoved, trac is pushed to the Plazasedges, and the center oval is expanded. Aseries o green rooms support activitiesthat draw visitors.

F berms removed trac pushed to Plazas edges, expanding

center oval north/south pedestrian promenade; market

space and ca patio green rooms provide quiet outdoor spaces

or various uses new crosswalks at junctions o side

streets to east and west

Anchoring Grand Army Plaza to Brooklyn


The Aua Plaza: An Idea for a New Urban


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eugeNe kWak, PhaNat xaNaMaNeNeW york, Ny, usa

A series o connected water eatureshydro-scapestransorm Grand Army Plaza intothe central node o a neighborhood water-harvesting, ltration and irrigation systemthat is educational, beautiul and unctional.

F elevated nursery terraces and greenhouses

with public garden plots bridge the easternroadway

water mist screen or lm projection water retention pond or collecting/ ltering

water replaces north berm Bailey Fountain removed; central oval

becomes Riparian Ravine with creeksurrounded by meadows

29

The Aua Plaza: An Idea for a New UrbanHydro-Scape Typology

Back to the Island


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JohaNNes NeuMaNN

arChitektur NeuMaNN

hageN, gerMaNy

Taking advantage o the proximity

o Prospect Parks green spaces, this

scheme re-imagines the Plaza as a

fexible, more urban space that couldbe used or a range o public events

including markets, estivals, art

shows, etc.

F berms removed trac pushed to Plazas edges,

expanding center oval to orm largeurban plaza

2 bridges or pedestrians/bicyclists

connect Plaza Streets East and West

to center oval underpass or pedestrians/bicyclists

connects Prospect Park to center oval ca and lounge bring people to the

Plaza at all hours o day

Back to the Island


Brooklyn Green Continuum: A Resilient Urban Plaza


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FLora CheN

Jersey City, NJ, usa

The Plazas location within the

proposed Brooklyn-Queens greenway

bike route is emphasized by a bike

exchange station inside the Arch. The

eastern roadway is closed to cars onweekends or use by the greenmarket.

F Plaza linked to Brooklyn/Queens

bike greenway route bike exchange installed at Arch new home or greenmarket on

eastern roadway pedestrian underpass rom Prospect

Park berms leveled and opened as

parkland center oval slopes to rainwater

collection basin; water used or

irrigation

31

Brooklyn Green Continuum: A Resilient Urban Plaza

City & Park Meet on Slopes Venues


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JeaN-baPtiste CueiLLeParis, FraNCe

Slow transportation is prioritized here, asPlaza Streets East and West are closed tocars, becoming a circular promenade orpedestrians and bicyclists. On the roadways,wide striped crosswalks send a strong visualmessage o pedestrians importance.

F pedestrian/ bicycle promenade replaces

trac on Plaza Streets large pedestrian crosswalks slow trac a series o outdoor covered terraces

unction as communal porches andgathering spaces

City & Park Meet on Slope s Venues



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Conducting Landscapes


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tyLer CaiNe, aNtoNio DeLLoMo,sheLby DoyLe, braNDoN sPeCketerNeW york, Ny, usa

Circulation is made saer by simpliying andclariying intersections between cars, bicycles,and pedestrians. Berms are removed, tracis pushed to the Plazas edges, and thecenter oval is expanded to include a wide,

protected pedestrian/bicycle path.

F trac pushed to Plazas edges,

expanding center oval bicycle/pedestrian path protected by visual

and acoustic barrier road repaved with cobblestones to calm

trac bicycle rental and parking

Conducting Landscapes


Counter Slope


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Na suN, xiNghua zhaoJersey City, NJ, usa

The north end o the center Plaza is raised,creating a slope that is counter to the existingincline, with the goal o integrating multipleaccesses and sub-divided internal spaces.Pathways and underpasses acilitate pedes-trian travel.

F pedestrian underpass with triangular

skylights pathways through berms stage or outdoor events

35

p

Curano Cor


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aNDreW suLLivaNoFFiCe oF CheryL bartoNsaN FraNCisCo, Ca, usa

Roadways east and west o the central Plazaare placed below ground. The area abovebecomes a broad green bridge, enablingestablishment o a path or pedestriansand bicyclists. To the south, a tree-lined

pedestrian zone ronts the entrance toProspect Park.

F vehicular trac moved below ground pedestrian path along berm ridge provides

views Bailey ountain relocated to north end o

enlarged central oval east/west tree-lined promenade guides

visitors into Plaza center


Cut + Occupy


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Joshua barkaN, Mike NessNeW york, Ny, usa

New crosswalks connect surrounding neigh-borhoods to a series o paths that are cutthrough the berms and lead to the Plazascenter. Communal spaces are carved outo the ormerly inaccessible berm space.

F existing trac patterns retained paths through and along ridge o berms communal spaces in berms include ca,

playground, badminton & bocce courts,grill area

37

py


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gap BOOMERANG


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rebeCCa kaiNerPhiLaDeLPhia, Pa, usa

An arching, transparent, illuminated pedes-trian bridge provides a grand entry with viewsthrough the Arch to Prospect Park, and spanstrac to provide pedestrian/bicycle accessrom neighborhoods east and west. Widepedestrian walkways cut through the berms

and link the bridge to crosswalks.

F illuminated, east-west pedestrian bridge

to plaza center stone walls or lounging and sitting grass amphitheater or concerts and events wide paths cut through berms

39

Grand Army Plaza: Gateway to Brooklyn


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asaF yogev, Craig tooMaNCutsogeorge tooMaN & aLLeNarChiteCts, P.C.NeW york, Ny, usa

The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch istransormed into a gateway and inormationcenter or explorations o Brooklyns manyrecreational, cultural, and educational

activities.

F arch is open to the public, with public

viewing platorm at top glass enclosed area below arch serves as

grand entrance to inormation center below-grade, open-air amphitheatre created



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Green Army Plaza


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MiChaeL araDhaNDeL arChiteCtsNeW york, Ny, usa

Existing trac lanes are covered with agreen embankmentsimilar to the bermsbut larger and reinorcedthat concealsvehicular tunnels. This new green publicspace becomes a ormal curved promenade.

F berms expanded to conceal vehicular

tunnels open lawn areas provide space or a variety

o activities ormal, curved promenade pedestrian pathways radiate out rom

Plaza center


HIGHwalk


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CateriNa roiatti, roberttrabosCia, aNgeLa aMoia, JasoNatkiNs, DeNNis MeNDoza, ChuNFaNg huaNg, keLLeN giuDa,sebastiaN DeL CastiLLotra stuDioNeW york, Ny, usa

Existing trac lanes are depressed below

grade and berms are extended to concealvehicular tunnels. At the apex o this newgreen space is the HIGHwalk, a complete-ly handicap-accessible scenic promenade orpedestrians and bicyclists, providing viewso the Plaza and the city beyond.

F berms expanded to conceal vehicular

tunnels

closes the gap between the Plaza andProspect Park, using this space as apermanent home or the greenmarket

scenic promenade or bicycles andpedestrians

transportation hub at north end o Plaza

43

The Historical Strip and the Activity Slopes


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hugues LeCLerCqaotu arChiteCture oFFiCe LtD.shaNghai, ChiNa

Berms are removed and trac is pushedto the Plazas edges to create large socialspace available or a range o activities.Green sloping areas surround this rectang-ular pedestrian plaza, oering a stage

or neighborhood activity.

F berms removed all trac pushed to Plaza Streets East

and West rectangular plaza provides north/southhistorical strip or pedestrians, incorp-orating the Plazas monuments and anew theater

grassy slopes can be used in various wayspicnic area, sculpture exhibition, ca, etc.


Making Connections in the Big Heart


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DiaNe kLeiN, MattheW MoorehiPboNe DesigN LLCNeW york, Ny, usa

Moving the roadways out to the position othe existing berms triples the size o thecentral oval, creating space or permanentand seasonal programs and acilities. Play-grounds, a seasonal outdoor movie theatre,

and a visitors center make the Plaza intoan active destination.

F berms removed and trac pushed to

Plazas edges, expanding center oval subway entrance/exit relocated to Plazas

center tall planters provide visual and sound

separation

playgrounds, dog run, visitors center

45

A Parade for Brooklyn: Cultivating Local Flavorf G d A Pl


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Lori Marie gibbs, shiN-Pei tsaybrookLyN, Ny, usa

Land reed up by making Flatbush Ave. themain north/south thoroughare is used orurban agriculture and a community ood sys-tem intended to connect culturally diverselocal neighborhoods.

F Flatbush Ave. becomes 2-way north/south

auto route; all other trac moves alongPlaza Streets East and West

bike lanes added community gardens irrigated with rainwater

collection system ruit tree orchard, tness track, amphitheatre greenmarket site, community center

and ca

for Grand Army Plaza


Parkbridge on Top of Superoval


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MartiN kNuiJtokra LaNDsChaPsarChiteCteNutreCht, the NetherLaNDs

The Plazas roadways are turned into a per-ect ellipse, optimizing trac fow. A greenpedestrian bridge connects surroundingneighborhoods to each other and the centero the Plaza.

F park bridge creates vistas and acilitates

pedestrian access to Plazas center large trac circle or automobiles

47

Plaza Street


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DaNieL goNzaLez breNes,Mary LyDeCkersoMerviLLe, Ma, usa

The inner oval is transormed into a pavedspace or community events and gatherings.Pathways through the berms and newcrosswalks help pedestrians move throughthe Plaza.

F inner plaza paved, providing vehicle

access or estivals / greenmarket underground cisterns collect rainwater crosswalks link Flatbush and Eastern

Parkway directly to central Plaza rental kiosk or recreational equipment

(bikes, sleds, skates, etc.) greenmarket moves to central Plaza

pathways across berms provide new vistas


Prospect on Structure


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ashLey keLLybrookLyN, Ny, usa

This scheme illustrates how natural systemscan be woven through a highly developedurban landscape. A pedestrian network con-nects cultural institutions with a gallery spaceintended to be a borough-wide civic anchor.

F Flatbush Ave. becomes 2-way north/south

auto route green elds close the gap between Plaza

and Park stormwater collection and retention system elevated boardwalk showcases Plaza

ecologies block-long Storeront Gallery

49

Raised Edges


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tsutoMu besshoForest hiLLs, Ny, usa

The berm edges are raised and connected tothe raised edges o the center Plaza, creatingsemi-enclosed spaces. Paths on the bermsand two pedestrian bridges connect surroundingneighborhoods with the central Plaza.

F new pathways open berms to the public elevated walkways enable pedestrian

movement between Plaza, berms and city elevated viewing decks provide visitors

with views o Arch, Fountain, ProspectPark and city


SPLAT (Social Platform for Living, Arts, & Theater)


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DaN MaxFieLD, JaMes biber,JaMes boWMaNPeNtagraM arChiteCtsNeW york, Ny, usa

An elevated park spans the Plaza, connectingit to the Park and bridging over existingtrac. The expanded Plaza cleans auto exhaustrom vehicles passing below, collects/dis-

tributes rainwater or irrigation, and providesfexible social spaces.

F existing trac patterns rooed over large fexible public space incorporates

hydraulic foor system to enable multipleusestheater, skating rink, pool, etc.

existing trees are replanted on the plat-orm and irrigated with ltered runo

ring o chimneys clean air and are lit toact as iconic elements

51

Urban Island or: How I Learned to Stop Worryingand Love Flatbush Ave


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babak bryaN, Jake LaChaPeLLebrookLyN, Ny, usa

A new transportation hub is created bysubmerging Flatbush Ave. and cutting theterrain to reveal the upper level o thesubway below. Prospect Park expands intothe spaces let above.

F Flatbush Ave. submerged transportation hub connects bus/subway

routes; subway tracks are exposed Arch becomes ormal Park entrance pedestrian bridge spans Flatbush,

includes an annex reading room to theadjacent Library

greenmarket moves to a new spacein west/center Plaza

and Love Flatbush Ave.


Winning back G.A.P.


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PauL quiLLigaNquiLLigaN arChiteCtsDubLiN, ireLaND

Existing trac patterns are rooed over atthe height o the berms, creating a large,open pedestrian space. An aerial lit linksthe Plaza to tProspect Park and drawsvisitors.

F existing trac patterns rooed over,

bridging gap between Plaza and ProspectPark

aerial lit connects Plaza to the Park ca two planted pergolas dene the edges o

the center oval

53


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1st Place Prize Winner (tie) CanopyPeoples Choice Award Winner


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aNNe-soPhie Cou, ChristiaNMatteau, stePhaNe Mauget,ChrysteLLe saNaaaCC&sNaNtes, FraNCe

Canopy stands or a strategy o spanningdierent areas and uses with a connectiveor sheltering roo. Green canopies or roo-

decks bridge over Flatbush Avenue, whichbecomes the main north/south vehicle route,reeing the west side o the Plaza or otheruses. Canopy-shaped orms become communitygardens at the west berm, and a canopyshaped pool surrounds the Bailey Fountain.This modern landscape brings natural beautyto the Plaza without mimicking the pastorallandscape o Prospect Park.

F Flatbush Avenue becomes 2-way north/south auto route covered by elevatedparkland; all other trac moves alongPlaza Streets East and West

paved surace closes gap betweenProspect Park and Arch and givespermanent home to greenmarket andother activities

berms opened and expanded or public

use visitor center at subway entrance community and experimental gardens network o low-grade ramps and paths

link all areas reserved area or taxis and bicycles

People s Choice Award Winner



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2nd Place Prize Winner Urban Stripes


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viNCeNt herteNbergeraND aNDras JaMborParis, FraNCe

Grand Army Plaza is divided into ve east/west stripes, connecting communities oneither side o the Plaza. Each stripe has adistinct appearance, plant community, anduse. The Plazas center becomes a large,

paved public space, with a pedestriancrosswalk, which repositions the Plaza asProspect Parks ormal entry.

F Flatbush Avenue becomes 2-way north/

south auto route; all other trac movesalong Plaza Streets East and West

Field o Poles 18 eet high and illumi-nated with LED lights creates structure

or greenmarket; coverings can beextended between poles or shelter refecting pool, open-air amphitheatre,

urban all orest kiosks or ood, newspapers, bicycle rental



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3rd Place Prize Winner A Center for Brooklyn


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JaMes garrisoN, braNDt graves,MiChaeL kiNg (NeLsoN/NygaarD),siMoN kristak, vaNessa MooN,tiM PetersoN, saL traNChiNa,aaroN tWeeDie, DarshiN vaNPariJs, eLLiot WhitegarrisoN arChiteCtsbrookLyN, Ny

A wide center Plaza is created by pushingall trac to a broad, tree-lined circularboulevard that replaces the berms. Theexpanded center becomes a platorm or arange o community activities, much likeUnion Square or Bryant Park. An elevatedpedestrian promenade circles the Plaza,provides views, and connects the Plazasmany elements.

F berms removed trac pushed to Plazas edges, expanding

center oval elevated pedestrian promenade trac calmed by making Eighth Avenue

and Prospect Park West 2-way saety increased with T-intersections and

signals or both motorized trac andpedestrians/cyclists

system o bikeways cas, greenmarket, playground auditorium/perormance space



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02

THE RE-


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54 TITLE

THE REINVENTINGGRANDARMY PLAZAEXHIBITION

Designing the Exhibit


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The exhibit was designed by the world-renowned rm Pentagram,who did both the architecture and the graphics. Their designwas bold, elegant and eye-catching. It successully drew visitorsinto the center o the Plaza like never beore.

Pentagrams renderings of theexhibit design (Pentagram)

63

Building the Exhibit


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Built in 6 weeks and installed in just 2 days, this exhibit requiredmultiple teams to producerom the local abrication house whoconstructed the cubes and the crane operator who lent his skills toinstall them, to the Special Events oce o Prospect Park whoprepared and maintained the site, to the Pentagram and DesignTrust sta who oversaw the installation. It was truly a magnicenteort rom all involved.

photoS:Installing the ReinventingGrand Army Plaza exhibition,September 10-11, 2008 (Chris

Kannen for the Design Trustfor Public Space)


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Opening Day Celebration


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The exhibit opened to the public on Saturday, September 13thwith a celebration in the center o the plaza eaturing live music,ood, guided exhibit tours, and opportunities to speak with com-petition entrants about their visions or the plaza. The highlighto the aternoon was a ree perormance by Brooklyns own dancetroupe, Streb Lab or Action Mechanics (S.L.A.M.) and a concertby the local Aro-pop band, Asiko. Sweet treats rom Sweet Tootho the Tiger, a renegade bake sale, were also available.

photoS:Opening day festivities


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Press Conference & Awards Ceremony


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Joining the Design Trust's Executive Director, Deborah Marton, atthe Press Conerence and Award Ceremony were Michael Cairl, ViceChair, Grand Army Plaza Coalition; Prospect Park AdministratorTupper Thomas; Council Member Letitia James; Liam Kavanagh,First Deputy Commissioner o the NYC Dept. o Parks & Recreation;Bruce Schaller, Deputy Commissioner or Planning and Sustain-ability, NYC Dept. o Transportation; and Marty Markowitz, BrooklynBorough President.

h fw cp fm m md d:

TODAY, WE MARK THE FACT THAT NOT ONLY HAVE THE COMMUNITIESAND TALENTS IN BROOKLYN TAKEN AN INTEREST IN THIS FLAWED GEMCALLED GRAND ARMY PLAZA, BUT THE WORLD HAS STEPPED UP ANDWEIGHED IN THROUGH THE REINVENTING GRAND ARMY PLAZA COMPETITIONSPONSORED BY THE DESIGN TRUST FOR PUBLIC SPACE IN PARTNERSHIPWITH GAPCO. THE CONCEPTS THAT WE ARE UNVEILING THIS WEEKENDARE A SELECTION OF THOSE THAT WERE SUBMITTED. THEY OFFEREXCITING, FRESH IDEAS. EACH OF THEM, IN ITS OWN WAY, MAKES USASK, WHAT IF.

MICHAEL CAIRL, VICE CHAIR, GAPCO

WE WELCOME THIS COMPETITION AS A TERRIFIC WAY TO ENGAGE THEPUBLIC AND COMMUNITY A ND GENERATE NEW IDEAS THAT WILL CREATEA VISION OF HOW GAP CAN SERVE AS A WORLD CLASS ENTRANCE TOPROSPECT PARK AND FUNCTION FOR ALL MODESAUTO, TRUCK, BIKEAND PEDESTRIAN.BRUCE SCHALLER, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR PLANNING AND SUS-TAINABILITY, NYC DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION

WE HAVE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ENTRANCE TO A PARK IN THE WORLDITS REALLY FUN TO THINK ABOUT THIS SPACEWHICH IS BEAUTIFULALREADYBUT IT DOESNT WORK AS WELL AS IT COULD. DOT HAS DONESOME GREAT WORK TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE AND THEY AREGOING TO BE DOING MORE. I THINK ALL O F US WOULD LOVE TO SEE AWAY THAT THIS IS AS GREAT AS TH E PARK THAT IT ATTACHES TO. . . TUPPER THOMAS, PROSPECT PARK ADMINISTRATOR

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE DESIGN TRUST FORPUBLIC SPACE FOR THEIR INNOVATIVE APPROACH TOCOMMUNITY-BASED PLANNING, AND PARTNERING WITHGAPCO TO REALIZE THE PLAZAS FULL POTENTIAL ASA WORLD-CLASS BUT UNIqUELY BROOKLYN ICON. . .CONGRATULATIONS TO THE DESIGNERS FOR THEY HAVECAPTURED THE MAJESTY AND GRANDEUR OF GAP, CAP-

TURING THE ESSENCE AND ELEMENTS OF BROOKLYN ANDGAP. AND THOSE ELEMENTS TO ME REPRESENT COMM-UNITY, CULTURE, HISTORY, COMMERCE, PARKLAND,AND YES, TRAFFIC. . .YOU HAVE ANSWERED THE qUESTIONWHICH IS: CANT WE ALL GET ALONG? AND CLEARLYTODAY THE ANSWER IS YES.LETITIA JAMES, COUNCIL MEMBER

LET ME THANK ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES IN GOVERNMENTAND THE VARIOUS AGENCIES, APPLAUDING THE EFFORTSOF SOME VERY CREATIVE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MAKEOUR BEAUTIFUL GAP EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL, MOREUSER-FRIENDLY, AND SAFER FOR MOTORISTS, CYCLISTS,AND PEDESTRIANS. ITS TRULY ONE OF THE MOST BEAU-TIFUL LOCATIONS ANYWHERE IN THIS CITY AND STATE.

THE DESIGN TRUST FOR PUBLIC SPACE, DEBORAH MARTONAND YOUR COLLEAGUES, I SALUTE YOU FOR ORGANIZINGTHIS SPIRITED COMPETITION, THANK YOU, BECAUSEGOVERNMENT DOES THE BEST IT CAN BUT THANK GODWE GOT FOLKS LIKE YOU THAT MAKE US WORK BETTERIN COLLABORATION WITH YOU, THANK YOU.MARTY MARKOWITZ, BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT


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top left:Ofcials of the Cityof New York and others at theReinventing Grand Army Plazaopening day press conference,September 12, 2008; From leftto right: Robert Minsky, GAPComember; Deborah Marton, DesignTrust for Public Space; RobWitherwax, Grand Army PlazaCoalition; Andrew Saunders,GAPCo member; Councilmem-ber Letitia James, New YorkCity Council; Scott Medbury,

Brooklyn Botanic Garden; BruceSchaller, NYC Department ofTransporation; Tupper Thomas,Prospect Park Alliance; MartyMarkowitz, Brooklyn BoroughPresident; Michael Cairl, GrandArmy Plaza Coalition; EllenSalpeter, Heart of Brooklyn;Chris Hrones, NYC Dept. ofTransportation; Liam Kavanagh,NYC Dept. of Parks & Recreation.

bottom left: Guillaume Derrien

and Gauthier le Romancer,in front of their award-winningscheme, Please Wake Me Up!

top right: Stephane Mauget,Anne-Sophie Cou, ChrystelleSanaa and Christian Matteau,in front of their award-winningscheme, Canopy

miDDle right: Vincent Herten-berger and Andras Jambor, infront of their award-winning

scheme, Urban Stripes

bottom right: Michael King(Nelson/Nygaard), Tim Peterson(Garrison Architects), MartyMarkowitz (Brooklyn BoroughPresident), Jim Garrison andDarshin Van Parijs (GarrisonArchitects) in front of theaward-winning scheme, ACenter for Brooklyn


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BACKMATTER


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BACK MATTERPROJECTSPONSORS,SPECIALTHANKS &CREDITS

Our Sponsorst plcn w md pl n pp f:

Special ThanksCenter or Urban Pedagogy (CUP)NYC Department o Parks & RecreationNYC Department o TransportationOce o the Brooklyn Borough PresidentPentagramA hit t T J Bib

Dn t f Plc spcbd f DcAlison BauerTheodore BergerDeborah BerkeKi H k


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t rnnn gnd am Pl ew md pl n pn:

Mj sppThe Double R FoundationPentagramSDS ProcidaThe A. Woodner FundIndependence Community FoundationRichter + Ratner

addnl sppStreb Lab or Action Mechanics (S.L.A.M)NYC Dept. o Cultural AairsNew York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA)Blue Sky BakeryBrooklyn Borough Presidents OceFlatbush Food Co-opNatural Heights

Santa Fe Grill

Architecture Team: James Biber,

Dan Maxeld, Michael Zweck-Bronner Graphics Team: Michael Beirut, MichaelGericke, Gillian DeSousa, Jennier Rose,Carolyn Thomas

Prospect Park AllianceTupper Thomas, Eugene Patron, JasmineHaynes, Lawrence Timberlake

SoCity / Jesse RakerStreb Lab or Action Mechanics (S.L.A.M)Sweet Tooth o the TigerWhatcould Web Design & Development

rnnn gnd am PlCmpn JJonathan Butler, Brownstoner.comElizabeth Meyer, University of Virginia,Landscape Arch.

Benjamin Perez, Parsons BrinckerhoffMilton Puryear, Brooklyn Greenway InitiativeEllen Salpeter, Heart of BrooklynElizabeth Streb, Streb Lab for Action Mechanics

Ken Smith, Ken Smith Landscape ArchitectsAlex Washburn, NYC Dept. of City PlanningChair: Michael Van Valkenburgh,MVV Associates

Dn t sffMegan Canning, Deputy DirectorStephanie Elson, Director of ProgramsLawrence Horne, Director of DevelopmentChris Kannen, Production AssistantDeborah Marton, Executive DirectorLeslie McBeth, Program & DevelopmentAssociate

Kitty Hawks

Marc HeimanSusan Grant LewinStephen MaharamZack McKownRaymond MerrittPaula MuellerAnnabelle SelldorSylvia SmithClaire WeiszJudith WoodardAndrea Woodner,Founder and Board Chair

CreditsCompetition logo by SoCityReinventing Grand Army Plaza IdeasCompetition & Peoples Choice websitesby Whatcould Web Design & Development

Exhibit designed by Pentagram

Exhibit construction by DCM FabricationUnless otherwise noted, all exhibit photosby Triborough Photography

All competition submissions copyrightthe designers.

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REINVENTINGGRAND ARMY PLAZAIn the all o 2008, the Design Trust or Public Space and the Grand

Army Plaza Coalition mounted Reinventing Grand Army Plaza, a large-scale exhibition in the center o Grand Army Plaza that showed 30visionary plans or the reinvention o this magnicent civic space.This unprecedented public exhibit illustrated how the Plaza couldbe redesigned to make it more usable, more amenable to publicevents, and saer or pedestrians, cyclists and motorists alike. Thispublication not only showcases the top 30 design schemes, butalso provides a historical, physical and cultural context or the Plazaand recommends steps the community can take to achieve the goalo a new master plan and a comprehensive renovation.

Nm 2009http://designtrust.org

Documents

09 Grand Army Plaza