CIVIC PLAZA 4.4 OPEN SPACE AND PUBLIC REALM

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Bernard Dalton
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2 OPEN SPACE AND PUIC REALM 44 he City has identified the need to provide an outdoor performance/event space within the Plaza of Nations Neighbourhood his was confirmed through a study, Demand Analysis Study for Cultural Performance/Event Spaces Northeast False Creek and Hastings Park prepared by John Donnelly and Associates, an event marketing consultant, in October, 2010 his report reviews the inventory of existing outdoor venues in Vancouver and the projected demand for outdoor performance and event spaces It provides an analysis of current gaps found within the City s inventory and preliminary consideration for facility requirements to address these gaps he key finding of the study is that there is demand and priority for a facility to serve events ranging from 1,000-4,000 people in the Plaza of Nations Neighbourhood he City prepared a set of criteria which was used to select the best site within the neighbourhood and establish a conceptual design framework:

3 44 OPEN SPACE AND PUIC REALM Civic Plaza Evaluation Criteria (November 22, 2010) Developer / Designer / Planning Criteria adjacent uses (retail, cafes/restaurants, hotel, other) sense of enclosure (edges) development opportunities (built form) views size shape spatial definition connectivity (relationship between spaces and proximity to roads etc) every day usage Performance/Event Criteria for Infrastructure Must Haves (from Demand Analysis) Front of house: - proximity to public transit and provision of bike racks - permanent public washrooms - green space and hard surface space - covered main stage 12 meters by 12 meters (40ft x 40ft) with ability to support rigging - indoor/outdoor functional space - ability to gate and ticket for events Front of house (within main space or in visual/physical proximity): - space for food concessions, vendor booths, secondary stages, liquor service and VIP area Front of house, pending design: Cover for audiences of minimum size of 1,000 (ideal is full coverage to extend season and types of usage and aid in noise/acoustic mitigation) Back of house: - Electricity and running water - ruck/loading capacity/parking for trailers and buses - Ability for amplified sound - Site lighting - Green rooms/dressing rooms for performers, with washrooms - Storage (limited, for producer administration and r supplies) - Storage (space for 1,000 collapsible chairs) Size: - 4,000 people 042m2 = 1,600m2 (17,220ft2) - 3,100 people 075m+ 3,000m2 (32,000ft2) - Support space 1,486m2 (16,000ft2) - otal Area: 3,000m2 + 1,486m2 = 4,486m2 (32,000ft2 + 16,000ft2 = 48,000ft2) Performance/Event Criteria (Additional from Demand Analysis and Staff Review): physical accessibility (including some parking for people with mobility issues) noise mitigation for performers/audiences (both acoustic quality of space and ambient noise from surrounding traffic and other activities) noise mitigation for surrounding neighbourhood solar orientation presence/visibility/accessibility (site/event site and on Pacific Boulevard) expandability and adjacency to roadways for access and spill-over stage orientation/flexibilities/sight lines (sun at edge is preferred, sun setting on stage is second choice) parking (producers/performers - onsite 4 stalls; need access to approximately 50 commercial stalls in proximity to site) protection from climatic conditions (wind, sun, rain) relationship to waterfront road access (appropriate width for loading/trailers) structural loading/weight ability relationship to community centre (possibilities for washrooms, storage, dry floor use in summer season, etc)

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5 44 OPEN SPACE AND PUIC REALM Siting and Configuration he location and configuration for the civic plaza was selected by evaluating four sites options: GE OR L OR A MI HA GE GI PO RO E I MB EX BS An Living Pa N General Motors Place DUNSM UIR L VIADUC Y PO RO E I MB EX BS An Living Pa N General Motors Place DUNSM UIR GEORGIA VIADUC Y A BE BC Place BC Place Creekside Park FALSE CREEK K GE OR IL A E BI AM C EX BS Y A BE RE E N DUNSM UIR OR L MI VIADUC HA Y A BE Option 3: Internal extending from BC Place to the waterfront FALSE CREEK K LS OR GI A RE E RE E AX IS An Living Pa N General Motors Place DUNSM UIR VIADUC GEORGIA VIADUC BC Place SM IH E IC F I C PA GE OR AX IS Science S cience i ce W ldd World N N CE MARINA SI D E C R E S NE GE Creekside Park EX PO IC F I C PA A CA GEORGIA VIADUC GI Science S cience i ce W ldd World EX BS BC Place SM IH E A PO RO E CI C Y HA ALLLL AXIS PO EX LS GI I MB OR Option 2 : Eastern Water edge linked directly to Georgia Street FALSE CREEK K Creekside Park NE N CE MARINA SI D E C R E S An Living Pa General Motors Place GE AX IS GE PO RO A Science S cience i ce W ldd World M HA GI GI D LV CB IFI C PA CI C Y HA ALLLL AXIS Option 1: Foot of Georgia Street OR SM IH E N GE CE MARINA SI D E C R E S CI C Y HA ALLLL AXIS CE MARINA SI D E C R E S LS EX PO NE CI C Y HA ALLLL AXIS IC F I C PA PO SM IH E EX LS GEORGIA VIADUC Creekside Park NE VIADUC CA CA A BE A MI HA GI GI A RE E AX IS Science Science i ce W ldd World Option 4 : Southeast Corner (Enterprise Building location, with an east-west configuration) FALSE CREEK K

6 OPEN SPACE AND PUIC REALM 44 Each of these was evaluated on the basis of the following criteria and through consultation with the Cultural Affairs Advisory Group Selection Criteria: Solar Orientation/Climate/Wind Connectivity Adjacent Uses Sense of Enclosure (Edges) Relationship to Waterfront Development Opportunities (Build Form) Flexibility for Performance & Other Uses Functional Parameters for Performance ransit Connections Stage Orientation I Flexibilities Size Shape Spatial Definition Noise Considerations Vehicular I Loading Access Views /Prospect False Creek Every Day Usage Relationship to Community Centre Presence I Visibility I Accessibility Expandability he preferred option was Option 4: he Southeast Corner, for a number of key reasons hese included: he best solar orientation he best prospect and views along False Creek in east and westerly directions he strong relationships with the waterfront he close relationships to the preferred community centre site he sense of enclosure and good spatial definition by built form Option 4 was then further refined and developed in terms of size, stage and event configurations, and access to further address the design criteria provided by the City Various configurations for stage and event configurations were explored and evaluated by the Cultural Services Advisory Group which included representation from various cultural organizations and City staff

44 OPEN SPACE AND PUIC REALM 4 1 2 Seawall 3 CIY HALL AXIS pedestrian circulation (seawalk) cyclist circulation (seawalk) pedestrian access nodes/ controlled entry points plaza seating vertical

7 44 OPEN SPACE AND PUIC REALM Seawall 3 CIY HALL AXIS pedestrian circulation (seawalk) cyclist circulation (seawalk) pedestrian access nodes/ controlled entry points plaza seating vertical towers light masts planting bollards PLAZA CIRCULAI he design of the seawall adjacent to the site will follow the existing treatment along False Creek Pedestrian and cyclist traffic will be separated by planting Four controlled entry points from the seawall to the plaza have been identified in the diagram below A textured paving treatment will be implemented at these four entries creating safe crossings for pedestrians into the plaza In addition, entries 2 and 3 will be formalized with bollards allowing pedestrians to move freely and safely from the plaza to the waterfront deck

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44 OPEN SPACE AND PUIC REALM DESIGN PRINCIPLES In order to promote activities in the civic plaza during non-event times a series of design principles are proposed

intimate spaces are proposed he central gathering space in front of the pavilion is large enough to hold fitness or informal sports ie volleyball, badminton that

floor At the edges of the space are a series of intimate seating and plaza spaces, including the seating/play niches along the buffer and the restaurant terraces

edges of the space hese include the restaurant terraces, seating stairs, seating niches within the buffers and potentially moveable seating throughout the space

Programming: he outdoor covered pavilion provides a unique venue for neighbourhood and community recreation ie fitness classes, ai Chi, kids camps he centre space

dance classes (similar to Stanley Parks Ceperly Meadow), ai Chi, etc Night ime: Special Lighting to serve the performance needs will be integral to the

9 44 OPEN SPACE AND PUIC REALM DESIGN PRINCIPLES In order to promote activities in the civic plaza during non-event times a series of design principles are proposed hese include the following: Outdoor Rooms- Different Scales: In order to create various outdoor spaces and a variation of scale, a series of larger and more intimate spaces are proposed he central gathering space in front of the pavilion is large enough to hold fitness or informal sports ie volleyball, badminton that could be programmed by the Community Centre Adjacent to the Community Centre is a smaller space which would have a water feature/children s play focus within the floor At the edges of the space are a series of intimate seating and plaza spaces, including the seating/play niches along the buffer and the restaurant terraces hese spaces would be defined by edges, floor pattern and furnishing design treatment Occupy the Edges: A diversity of seating opportunities are proposed along the edges of the space hese include the restaurant terraces, seating stairs, seating niches within the buffers and potentially moveable seating throughout the space Focus: A water feature which comes out of the floor is proposed as a means to provide a focus and to invite children s play in the summer Informal Recreation Programming: he outdoor covered pavilion provides a unique venue for neighbourhood and community recreation ie fitness classes, ai Chi, kids camps he centre space is large enough to accommodate a variety of settings for informal recreation ie rollerblade classes, mobile skateboard tricks, net sports (badminton, volleyball), dance classes (similar to Stanley Parks Ceperly Meadow), ai Chi, etc Night ime: Special Lighting to serve the performance needs will be integral to the infrastructure of the space his lighting system also could be used to illuminate and bring night time display and character to the space, and potentially a playful artistic and changing nightscape

OPEN SPACE AND PUIC REALM 44 DESIGN INSPIRAIS AND REFERENCES Several inspirations have emerged to inform the design of the civic plaza:

encourage people to gather on the plaza to watch races he diagonal geometry across the plaza is set to parallel the dragon boat race

replaces some of the few remaining elements and deck sections from Expo 86 he space frame architecture of the Expo was especially

of the design elements on the plaza, particularly the two towers that will provide support for temporary event infrastructure, banners,

was part of the industrial waterfront with log booms and beehive burners he historic Gas Works with its massive tower was located in this

10 OPEN SPACE AND PUIC REALM 44 DESIGN INSPIRAIS AND REFERENCES Several inspirations have emerged to inform the design of the civic plaza: he plaza is sited to provide panoramic oversight of False Creek in the area where dragon boat races are held Seating will be oriented to encourage people to gather on the plaza to watch races he diagonal geometry across the plaza is set to parallel the dragon boat race course Other references may include benches sized on the standard dragon boat length and design motifs symbolizing dragon boats he site replaces some of the few remaining elements and deck sections from Expo 86 he space frame architecture of the Expo was especially referenced in the roof over the Plaza of Nations he functionality and adaptability of the space frame elements of Expo 86 would suit some of the design elements on the plaza, particularly the two towers that will provide support for temporary event infrastructure, banners, and signage Other site furnishings could recall the Expo design vocabulary in a contemporary interpretation Prior to Expo 86, this site was part of the industrial waterfront with log booms and beehive burners he historic Gas Works with its massive tower was located in this vicinity he scale of these uses and the simplicity and industrial character of the infrastructure could also be referenced in the design of plaza elements

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Figure 3-1: Public Realm Plan

3 Public Realm Figure 3-1: Public Realm Plan 3.1 Public Realm Concept The public realm concept for the Little Mountain site integrates a clear and accessible movement network with public spaces for social