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PUBLIC PLAZACASE STUDY ONBY:SUMIT MITTALRITIKA SINGHVAIBHAV BHASIN

INTRODUCTIONPublic plazas transform underutilized areas of roadway into public spaces for surrounding residents and businesses. Using low-cost materials, such as gravel, movable planters, and flexible seating, public plazas reconfigure and revitalize intersections that might otherwise be unsafe or underutilized. Public plazas are the result of a successful partnership between the city and a neighbourhood group or business association.Lubert Plaza (Thomas Jefferson University)

DesignerAndropogon Associates, Ltd.Land UseRetrofitInstitutionalProject TypeSchool/UniversityCourtyard/PlazaLocationS 10th Street & Locust StreetPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania19107Size1.6 acresBudget$60 million - Total project;$1.6 million - LandscapearchitectureCompletion Date2006

OverviewThomas Jefferson University campus in center city Philadelphia by providing a new "heart of campus" where two above-ground parking garages once stood. The new plaza, built above a 215-space parking garage, was designed to accommodate academic events and ceremonies and to serve as a shared space for the surrounding neighbourhood. Total site acreage is 1.6 acres (69,560 sq. ft., not including the building), with 1.4acres (60,984 sq. ft., not including sidewalks) devoted to open space. 50 percent of the open space is green and 50 percent is hardscape (paving).

PurposeThe plaza is designed to accommodate academic events and ceremonies, as well as be inviting to the urban community with its public art and diverse, sunny and shaded seating areas.The elliptical forms radiating from the center make this space feel expansive despite being confined by tall buildings, and the openness of the design makes the plaza feel welcoming and secure.

DesignNo physical boundaries around the plaza and green so that the center of Jeffersons campus opens out into the community; the beginning of a new campus plan which includes a sustainable, multifunctional urban design with a community-friendly approach.Creates a safe, welcoming, versatile, active, and accessible environment. Hardscape can be used to host Jefferson and community functions. The green can be used for more casual events and congregating.Large and small spaces have been integrated for planned and chance urban gatherings.

Conceptual planmmUnderground parkingPlaza open to the community

Evapotranspiration (sum of evaporation and plant transportation from surface to atmosphere) further reduces storm water volume with over 55 canopy trees and nearly one acre of lawn.The cistern is approximately 12 ft x 159 ft and runs parallel to the sidewalk avoiding utilities and trees, with several 'cut outs' to avoid root conflicts. Capacity to store and re-use 17,700 gallons of storm water and air conditioner condensate for irrigation. Engineered soils to hold up to 11,500 gallons of water per each percent of organic matter at 12 inch depth.Stones in a regular form are arranged radically as well as parallel in the plaza which are placed to provide sitting facility.

Sustainable features:

Rain water downA. C. Condensation159 ft12 ftUnderground cistern (17,700 gallons)Irrigation systemBasement parkingLandscape integrated storm water management system reduces storm water volume and delays peak flow discharge through storage and re-use for irrigation; contributes to the elimination of combined sewer overflow discharge to the Delaware River.9

Trees and plantsA total of 72 trees (54 canopy and 18 ornamental), will sprawl across the plaza and green. No trees will obscure views across the site. The 19 species of trees are all deciduous, locally grown, and native to the northeast. They are: Bur Oak- 70-80 high, White Oak- 100 tall, Swamp White Oak, Willow Oak, London Plane Tree, Scarlett Oak, Hickory, Red Maple, Tulip Tree, American Basswood, White/Green Ash, Flowering Dogwood, Red Bud, Fringe Tree, Sassafras, Allegheny Serviceberry, Southern Magnolia, Sweet Bay Magnolia, and Witch Hazel. Three species of shrubs will dot the landscape including Elderberry, Viburnum, and Sweetpepper bush. Numerous other perennials and groundcover shade plants will add to the scope of the environment.

Eight species of herbaceous plants, numbering 735 ground cover plugs and container grown vegetation, all rooted in historic health remedies, will enhance the liveliness of the urban, open space while reflecting the integration of the Jefferson campus with the community. Medicinal plants include: Black Cohosh, Blood Root, Blue Vervain, Boneset, Solomons Seal, Yarrow, Narrow-leaved Cone Flower, and Wild Ginger

CONSIDERATIONSDrainage should be considered in the design of the plaza. Sites should have minimal cross slope or be designed using edge treatments that mitigate the overall slope.Corners and other areas of a plaza subject to encroachment by errant or turning vehicles should be reinforced using heavy objects and bollards that alert drivers of the new curb line.Adequate lighting should be provided at plazas at all times of day.Parking shall not be allowed or permitted within the public plaza.Parking may be maintained adjacent or parallel to the plaza, but should be designed along the footprint of the future capital implementation.Public plazas shall be constructed with ADA-compliant tactile warning strips at the crosswalks. Extra attention should be paid to how sight-impaired individuals will navigate these spaces.Stripe a double white line along the edge of the plaza to legally prohibit vehicles from entering the space.

Bur- oak

white- oakSwamp white- oak

Scarlet oakLondon plane treeWillow oak

hickoryRed mapletulip

American basswoodWhite ashFlowering dogwood

sassafrasRed budFringe tree

Sweet bay magnoliaSouthern magnoliaAllegheny serrvice berry

Red bud

viburnumelderberrySweet pepperBUSHES16

blood rootbonesetBlack cohosh

Blue vervain

Solomons sealHERBS

yerrowNarrow- leaved cone flowerWild gingerReferencewww.Jefferson.edu/Hamiltonhttps://www.google.co.in/maps/place/Thomas+Jefferson+University/@39.9482279,-75.1579239,193m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!1m2!2m1!1sThomas+Jefferson+University+Lubert+Plaza!3m1!1s0x89c6c6288ff2d6e9:0x79509e5b8f9d6833http://www.folaweb.com/images/tju%20plaza.pnghttp://planphilly.com/uploads/media_items/http-planphilly-com-sites-planphilly-com-files-dsc_1574-jpg.480.322.s.jpghttp://aslathedirt.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/sidwellwetlands.jpg?w=500http://www.andropogon.com/assets/Projects/Academic/Thomas-Jefferson-University-Plaza/Thomas-Jefferson-University09.jpg