In 2009, a temporary project known as “Green Light for Midtown” used paving and street furniture to close Broadway to vehicular traffic between 42nd and 47th Streets. The goal was to improve safety and alleviate traffic conditions at a site that sees over 40,000,000 annual visitors. The project was a huge success and led the New York City Department of Transportation to begin a project to permanently close the section of Times Square to cars.
Snøhetta’s proposal won the competition to redesign Times Square and work began soon after. The project redefines Times Square by upgrading crucial utility infrastructure, providing event infrastructure for new and expanded public events; and making permanent the temporary improvements the city piloted in 2009. The result of this commission is a Times Square that has almost twice as much public space as it did before.
The design creates open pedestrian zones and a cohesive surface from one building to the next. The new surface material for the ground is made of two-toned pre-cast concrete pavers embedded with nickel-sized steel discs to capture the neon glow from signs and scatter it across the paving surface.
Ten granite benches were added along Broadway. The benches frame the public plazas and create an infrastructural spine for events. They also help with wayfinding and provide an orientation device for pedestrians.
The final, completed project officially opened on April 19.
Image courtesy of Snøhetta.
Image courtesy of Snøhetta.
Image courtesy of Snøhetta.
Related Stories
Mixed-Use | Aug 2, 2017
Redevelopment of Newark’s Bears Stadium site receives team of architects
Lotus Equity Group selected Michael Green Architecture, TEN Aquitectos, Practice for Architecture and Urbanism, and Minno & Wasko Architects and Planners to work on the project.
Urban Planning | Jul 21, 2017
Streets as storytellers: Defining places and connecting people
“In a city the street must be supreme. It is the first institution of the city. The street is a room by agreement, a community room, the walls of which belong to the donors, dedicated to the city for common use.” – Louis Kahn
Urban Planning | Jun 26, 2017
Convenience and community lead the suburban shift
As the demand for well-connected urban locales increases, so too has the cost of property and monthly rent; and as suburbs typically offer a bargain on both, more people are looking for a compromise.
Office Buildings | Jun 12, 2017
At 11.8 million-sf, LG Science Park is the largest new corporate research campus in the world
The project is currently 75% complete and on schedule to open in 2018.
Architects | May 26, 2017
Innovations in addressing homelessness
Parks departments and designers find new approaches to ameliorate homelessness.
Mixed-Use | May 24, 2017
Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects will develop mixed-use project on former site of Carlsberg Brewery
The 36,000-sm project will cover a city block and include a residential tower.
Mixed-Use | May 23, 2017
45-story tower planned for Miami Worldcenter
Pickard Chilton Architects will design the 600,000-sf 110 10th Street.
Movers+Shapers | May 8, 2017
Movers + Shapers: Charm City's lucky charm
Under Armour’s Kevin Plank launches a $5.5 billion redevelopment to transform Baltimore into “the coolest city in America.”
Urban Planning | Apr 24, 2017
No Small Plans hopes to inspire Chicago teens to design the city they want
Launched with a Kickstarter campaign, the Chicago Architecture Foundation aims to get No Small Plans into the hands of thousands of Chicago teens.
Architects | Apr 20, 2017
‘Gateways to Chinatown’ project seeks the creation of a new neighborhood landmark for NYC’s Chinatown
The winning team will have $900,000 to design and implement their proposal.
