Cooper, Robertson & Partners Architecture, Urban Design

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Roy Parrish
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1 Date 01/22/14 To Jason Beske From Bill Kenworthey Copies to Earl Jackson Don Clinton Rob White Project ARLINGTON COURTHOUSE SQUARE Company Arlington County Re Company CRP CRP CRP Project number WORKING GROUP DISCUSSION: 6:00pm-9:00pm (Room 311) Attendees: Nancy Iacomini / Leo Sarli / Loria Pocaro/ Walter Tejada / Peter Owen / Bill Ross / Chris Zimmerman / Jon Kinney / Ken Fulton / Janel Brattland/ Patricia Darneille/ Jaime Areizaga-Zoto/Gabriel Thoumi/Bill Kenworthey /Earl Jackson/ Rob White/ Victoria Anstead/ Steven Baumgartner/ Tom Brown/ Jason Beske/ Kris Krider/ Jill Griffin / Richard Hartman/ Margaret Tulloch- Rhodes/Andrew D huyvetter 1. What is the vision for a government center for Courthouse Square? o Central seat of county government o Should be obvious o Make the place look like government o Reference to Philadelphia City Hall o Needs to have identity o History of the County o Center for County, should be obvious o History and characteristics as an urban square o Could focus on history of county but Bill refers to recent history with density and a focal point o House the county employees and be able to get work done, work needs and practical needs o Inviting and welcoming to visitors 24/7, safe and active o Natural connections as center o Place you can feel comfortable on late night date o Feel like if you needed to you could use the repository late at night o Understanding natural nodes o Place making exercise o Urban center natural gravitas, natural wayfinding o From and of Arlington 311 West 43 Street Telephone New York, New York Telefax Limited Liability Partnership

2 o Find it without having to read the signs, that is gravitas o Civic Architecture: balance gravitas/ not too classical or rigid o Could be informal o Look at the micro and macro o What does it mean to be government today? o It s no longer only about power o It should look like government center but not look like it came 200 years ago o Modern civic center (Civic more than Governmental) o Reference to Marin Civic Center in California by Frank Lloyd Wright o Thinking in terms of center of town, know when you arrive o Have a sense of centrality o Should be a magnet o Focal point of culture o A destination o The start and/or finish of the Mardi Gras parade o Doesn t know that a government center needs to be physically centralized in the time of a modern government o But, could be a square or Arlington Center o Think of concepts of engagement-space for creativity, business development, (the 3 rd place) information, etc. o Space to match the community energy plan and environmental concerns o Open access to transportation o Space of easy access o Space to develop international business o A place of incubators o A place that embodies and references the force and feel of the river and relationships to other natural features o References regional and national history o The gatekeeper o The freedman village history o Arlington Center o Kennedy Center West o Smithsonian West o Civil war references o What do we do to preserve small business in the older buildings with cheaper rent? o Multi-use facility (but with a better name) ARLINGTON COURTHOUSE SQUARE Page 2 of 6

3 o Activity leading the outreach o Not a substitute for actual stake holder discussion o Provide guidance to the staff o Advise how to dissolve concerns & land mines to the consultants and county team o Is what should a government center for courthouse be? the right question? o Doesn t see government as most important part of civic center (but an important aspect) o It should speak to the values as a community o It should be a place that encourages community conversation o A place of consensus and tolerance o A place where people have the opportunity to engage with each other o Similarities to the Swiss Government system o Civic Center is opportunity for civic conversation and a place where the government can hear it o Center for every Arlingtonian o Both Arlington County/City Center o Reference to the Latin American plazas: A place to have award ceremonies, events, gatherings, speeches, celebrate Arlington, hold demonstrations o Auditorium where events and the arts can gather o A structure of the County that is in its own building o An accessible roof terrace to the public o Welcoming plaza o Arrival should make an impression o Reflects the values of the community o Unique history and associated values o Has to be inviting to people o Open to many activities, leisure, recreation, meetings o An indoor gathering space, i.e. an enclosed atrium space o Do not limit to what it could be, lets vet it first o Joyful, Celebratory, Iconic, Memorable o What would you talk about after being there? o What would you remember after leaving? o One aspect is government as government o Another is a nexus of place o Civic space is a nexus where government meets commerce, meets living, meets community, meets activity 2. What could improve the transitions of the fabric of the neighborhood? What signifies arrival? ARLINGTON COURTHOUSE SQUARE Page 3 of 6

4 o She lives in the area but only comes in to the study area to go to the farmers market, otherwise feels there is nothing there. o Doesn t feel safe there after hours o The new design needs to allow for views o Visibility of pedestrians to vehicles (particularly in relation to topography) needs improvement o Even when she goes to the movies she goes thru the plaza not past/thru the parking. o Goes to grab food at the restaurants around the area (I.E. T. & R. Chinese Food, supposedly well-known even to outsiders) o Where are the monuments/where is the celebration? o Where is the cyclist track? o Connectivity similar to Dupont Circle o Link master plans, I.E. Realize Rosslyn o Why are the restaurants not full in the evening? o Where are the small businesses? The start-ups? What are the business incentives? o What is key is access in and out of the area without disruption on the macro scale. o Micro scale can have more flexibility o Look at Topography to give cues o Look to Traffic to give cues o Where are the markers? Wayfinding? o Transitions need to be welcoming o Look at Clarendon Metro Plaza & the Barnes & Noble alcove o If all of Arlingtonians and surrounding do not come it will not be successful o Rosslyn not inviting to her o Likes the idea of a nave fabric o Enjoys Clarendon public art and places to sit o When she walks she wishes it to be visibly attractive o Desires a seating and gathering place like metro plaza in Clarendon o Concerned about traffic speed in the area, for pedestrians o Gets to work here 4 different ways (modes) and enjoys all of them o People all cross the parking lot to get to the other places even thru parking to get to metro o Linking up everything needs to happen o Desire to connect to the existing plaza o Attractive surroundings can compensate for steep grade o Thinks it s dangerous crossing Wilson, Clarendon Blvd and 15 th Street o Thinks the Wendy s site could be a Gateway to the area o People do not look forward to going to the Courthouse o Not pleasant activities, not sought out activity. ARLINGTON COURTHOUSE SQUARE Page 4 of 6

5 o Business and Entertainment bring people o Likes the idea of activity here like Bocce and Bowling and giving the area a concept name o What about a ticket kiosk here (I.E. TKTS booth/pavilion in Times Square) o Activities that keep people and draw people o When you have to go to the Government, make it NICE o As functional and as pleasant as possible o Change the perception of government o He was surprised by difference between Wilson Blvd and Clarendon Blvd in terms of traffic o The Activity is on the edge, but we need to pull people in. o What is the name of the new place/area? o What can be more of a structure for the market with a mixed use space that is multi-purpose o Is it a transit shelter? o Where do I stop on arrival? o Design the square so the farmers market could expand o What additional events could be here? o The activity of resting. o The movie theatre is important o People come to the Courthouse just for the movie theatre o It would be great if there was an enclosed space for the market o No business on Clarendon Blvd. o 85 restaurants, but no place to buy clothes o What is our goal to stand out and be different? o What is Courthouse s draw day/night? o References puppet theatre in Midwest o Farmers markets in Midwest are open every day of the year o For whom are these designs directed? People in Trouble People who need help Neighbors Homeless Visitors to Arlington (within and without) New Arlingtonians (Courthouse is the check-in point) ARLINGTON COURTHOUSE SQUARE Page 5 of 6

6 Workers/Jobs o Surface of the parking lot is terrible for neighbors o Especially if the theory is Move to Arlington to give up your car o Compare National Mall/ Freedom Plaza/ McPherson Square o Courthouse is a check-in and a place for community business o Emphasize the site lines that bring people in o No visual approaches currently o Can we reroute Courthouse Blvd to open vistas? o Create a visual sense of arrival o Think about paving as a means to draw you in o Start art fairs monthly, not just crafts o Create a neighborhood of its own o Likes the idea of a year round farmers market o Government is essential, but note sole o Pedestrian life is really important o Create more pedestrian activity on the sidewalk o Add planned events and festivals, need a location to host o How do we contain noise with design? o For the new buildings, the need to be distinct, not just a rectangular box o This area has to continue to feel safe o Reference to the Westover Market o References the Rocky statue in Philly and plaza as a successful gathering space and point of tourism o Parking Surface is coming out o Do we need 15 th St. between parking and the Landmark Building? o Do we need the small stretch of Uhle Street between 15 th and Clarendon Blvd? o Are they only open on rush hour? o Are there treatments, curbless spaces, and other ways to design these streets? o Thinks that currently there is nothing here for people to stay and hang out, so people leave. o Where can you just hang out? o Needs to be friendly to people in the city, as a pubic gesture ARLINGTON COURTHOUSE SQUARE Page 6 of 6

Cooper, Robertson & Partners Architecture, Urban Design

Cooper, Robertson & Partners Architecture, Urban Design Date 5/14/14 To Jason Beske From Rob White Copies to Kris Krider Margaret Rhodes Andrew D huyvetter William Kenworthey Earl Jackson Noor Majeed Memorandum