civic plaza - vancouver · people to gather on the plaza to watch races. the diagonal geometry...

The City has identified the need to provide an outdoor performance/event space within the Plaza of Nations Neighbourhood. This 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. This report reviews the inventory of ex-isting outdoor venues in Vancouver and the projected demand for outdoor per-formance 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. The 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. The City prepared a set of criteria which was used to select the best site within the neighbourhood and establish a conceptual design framework:

CIVIC PLAZA

4.4 OPEN SPACE AND PUBLIC REALMCIVIC PLAZA

Civic Plaza Evaluation Criteria (November 22, 2010)

Developer / Designer / Planning Criteria • adjacentuses(retail,cafes/restaurants,hotel,other)• senseofenclosure(edges)• developmentopportunities(builtform)• views• size• shape• spatialdefinition• connectivity(relationshipbetweenspacesandproximitytoroadsetc.)• everydayusage

Performance/Event Criteria for Infrastructure Must Haves (from Demand Analy-sis) • Frontofhouse:

- 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.

• Frontofhouse(withinmainspaceorinvisual/physicalproximity):- space for food concessions, vendor booths, secondary stages, liquor ser-

vice and VIP area

• Frontofhouse,pendingdesign:Coverforaudiencesofminimumsizeof1,000 (ideal is full coverage to extend season and types of usage and aid in noise/acoustic mitigation)

• Backofhouse:- Electricity and running water - Truck/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 standing @ 0.42m2 = 1,600m2 (17,220ft2)- 3,100 people seated @ 0.75m+ 3,000m2 (32,000ft2)- Support space 1,486m2 (16,000ft2)- Total Area: 3,000m2 + 1,486m2 = 4,486m2 (32,000ft2 + 16,000ft2 =

48,000ft2)

Performance/Event Criteria (Additional from Demand Analysis and Staff Review): • physicalaccessibility(includingsomeparkingforpeoplewithmobilityissues)• noisemitigationforperformers/audiences(bothacousticqualityofspaceand

ambient noise from surrounding traffic and other activities) • noisemitigationforsurroundingneighbourhood• solarorientation• presence/visibility/accessibility(site/eventsignage@siteandonPacific

Boulevard) • expandabilityandadjacencytoroadwaysforaccessandspill-over• stageorientation/flexibilities/sightlines(sunatedgeispreferred,sunsetting

on stage is second choice) • parking(producers/performers-onsite4stalls;needaccesstoapproximately

50 commercial stalls in proximity to site) • protectionfromclimaticconditions(wind,sun,rain)• relationshiptowaterfront• roadaccess(appropriatewidthforloading/trailers)• structuralloading/weightability• relationshiptocommunitycentre(possibilitiesforwashrooms,storage,dry

floor use in summer season, etc.)


4.4OPEN SPACE AND PUBLIC REALMCIVIC PLAZA

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Option 1: Foot of Georgia Street Option 2 : Eastern Water edge – linked directly to Georgia Street

Option 3: Internal – extending from BC Place to the waterfront Option 4 : Southeast Corner (Enterprise Building location, with an east-west configuration)

Siting and Configuration

The location and configuration for the civic plaza was selected by evaluating four sites options:


Each of these was evaluated on the basis of the following criteria and through consultation with the Cultural Affairs Advisory Group.

Selection Criteria:• SolarOrientation/Climate/Wind• Connectivity• AdjacentUses• SenseofEnclosure(Edges)• RelationshiptoWaterfront• DevelopmentOpportunities(BuildForm)• FlexibilityforPerformance&OtherUses• FunctionalParametersforPerformance• TransitConnections• StageOrientationIFlexibilities• Size• Shape• SpatialDefinition• NoiseConsiderations• VehicularILoadingAccess• Views/ProspectFalseCreek• EveryDayUsage• RelationshiptoCommunityCentre• PresenceIVisibilityIAccessibility• Expandability

The preferred option was Option 4: The Southeast Corner, for a number of key reasons. These included:• Thebestsolarorientation• ThebestprospectandviewsalongFalseCreekineastandwesterlydirec-

tions• Thestrongrelationshipswiththewaterfront• Thecloserelationshipstothepreferredcommunitycentresite• Thesenseofenclosureandgoodspatialdefinitionbybuiltform

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.


CITY

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SSeawall

The design of the seawall adjacent to the site will follow the existing treatment along False Creek. Pedestrian and cyclist traffi c will be separated by planting. Four controlled entry points from the seawall to the plaza have been identifi ed 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 al-lowing pedestrians to move freely and safely from the plaza to the waterfront deck.

pedestrian circulation (seawalk)cyclist circulation (seawalk)

plaza seatingvertical towers

light mastsplantingbollards

PLAZA CIRCULATION

pedestrian accessnodes/ controlled entry points


1

2

3

4

DESIGN PRINCIPLES

In order to promote activities in the civic plaza during non-event times a series of design principles are proposed. These 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. The 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, includ-ing the seating/play niches along the buffer and the restaurant terraces. These spaces would be defined by edges, floor pattern and furnishing design treat-ment.

Occupy the Edges: A diversity of seating opportunities are proposed along the edges of the space. These 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: The outdoor covered pavilion provides a unique venue for neighbourhood and community recreation ie. fitness classes, Tai Chi, kids camps. The 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), Tai Chi, etc.

Night Time: Special Lighting to serve the performance needs will be integral to the infrastructure of the space. This lighting system also could be used to illumi-nate and bring night time display and character to the space, and potentially a playful artistic and changing nightscape.


DESIGN INSPIRATIONS AND REFERENCES

Several inspirations have emerged to inform the design of the civic plaza:

•TheplazaissitedtoprovidepanoramicoversightofFalseCreekintheareawhere dragon boat races are held. Seating will be oriented to encourage people to gather on the plaza to watch races. The 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.

•ThesitereplacessomeofthefewremainingelementsanddecksectionsfromExpo 86. The space frame architecture of the Expo was especially referenced in the roof over the Plaza of Nations. The 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.

•PriortoExpo86,thissitewaspartoftheindustrialwaterfrontwithlogboomsand beehive burners. The historic Gas Works with its massive tower was located in this vicinity. The scale of these uses and the simplicity and industrial character of the infrastructure could also be referenced in the design of plaza elements.


CONCEPT SKETCH

CONCEPT SKETCH


CONCEPT SKETCH


civic plaza - vancouver · people to gather on the plaza to watch races. the diagonal geometry...

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