CityCenter’s Plaza
15 12 2009Last month we went on a little rant about the potential of the City Center project on the empty 10 acre site in heart of downtown DC. Things were not looking good from the street, but a kindly tipster sent us this rendering of what the interior plaza will look like and it’s not too bad.
It is hard to tell, but we just hope they leave enough space to really define it as a gathering central place in the city. What do you think?
[Rendering: Shalom Baranes]
I see they’ve stepped down the heights near the center of the plaza. Hopefully it’s enough so that the sun isn’t blocked out all day.
Fail. This is going to be like the open space beneath / between Tech World that is also not utilized by people.
I love the trees. A clear acknowledgement that it will be a barren space. Reminds me of countless renderings from the 60′s where the architecture is practically identical.
Glad that it’s pedestrianized, but +1 on the Techworld comparison.
I remember WPost’s Benjamin Forgey’s excellent review on Techworld: “A Crass Idea In Glass!”
Point well taken on Techworld. However, CityCenter could be different even with these plans. The city core has shifted east since the 1980s and CityCenter will be eponymous with its location. Maybe it could be as successful as the embarcadero shops in SF or Lincoln road in Miami. My guess, though, is that you are right. Many people drive in and out of dc without strolling around. Businesses in the courtyard could have a tough time getting noticed.
I think you guys are missing something critical. This isn’t a courtyard at all. These are actually pedestrianized streets with a large central area. Almost like huge alleyways that open up into a plaza. Techworld is tiny in comparison. Given the right restaurants and shops this will be very popular indeed.
For comparison here is another render:
http://s3.amazonaws.com/thornton/project_content_images/2869/cityCenter_3_main.jpg
The Tech World plaza is a barren wasteland because there is no ground floor retail and the program on the upper floors is entirely office with an empty monolithic facade.
The City Center plaza will be a vibrant lively space because it’s entirely lined with ground floor retail space with residential units above including balconies.
How can DC Metrocentric claim to cover “All things in the world of development in the Washington, DC Metro Area” and be so out of the loop on the City Center design which has been circulating on the web for several years now? Stop what you’re doing right now and study everything on http://www.citycenterdc.com/ including the video and Brochure.
I agree 100% Jim. 3 words: Lined with retail. I don’t think this project can be compared with Techworld Plaza on any level. Have a little more faith in Foster and Partners. They’re only the premiere planning/design/architecture shop in the world.
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Does this space have anything anchoring it? Is there a particularly interesting piece of art, architecture, or a public feature like a rink or fountain… or a major “destination” retailer? If the streets are lined with nothing more than Au Bon Pain and banks, it won’t be terribly exciting. -Better than TechWorld, and certainly better than a parking lot, at least!
Can the trapeze school stay…?
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