Stephen Wilkinson, still keeping up with change in NYC even though relocated to YVR, sends along this:
Times Square Redesign
Snøhetta
Snøhetta redesigns Times Square, doubling the amount of public space. The new plaza on Broadway radically carves out 2.5 acres of pedestrian-only space at Manhattan’s core, transforming a congested vehicular district into a world-class civic space.
More photos here.
More photos here.
This is not the part of Times Square to the north that was previously pedestrianized – the location of the red-stepped TKTS booth. It’s the southern part of the bow-tie. And if you need an explanation, go this Price Tags on Times Square, published in 2009, when the above was all asphalt.
It is hoped one moves away from the huge lit digital billboards and screens if pedestrian public spaces has adjacent residential high rise buildings. It is unclear why this should be part of forward thinking urban design.
Over…..15 years ago there was a lawyer who worked in the same firm where I was in Toronto. The billboard lighting from the Skydome Stadium in downtown Toronto near the Waterfront area, flashed /beamed straight into their bedroom at night. Not sure where the situation went except he was an active member of his community association launching a complaint.
Just last year, one of the telecommunications firms wanted to install a huge tv screen outside on the front of their corporate office bldg. in downtown Calgary. The neighbourhood responded strongly. It didn’t get installed. There are several high rise residential buildings across from the proposed installation.