City Plaza
The City of Raleigh has officially begun work on "celebration central" -- officially known as City Plaza. (Construction update: July 2009 -- pdf format | Photo )
 The Oct. 20, 2008, groundbreaking marked the beginning of the transformation of the 500 block of Fayetteville Street into the Triangle’s defining cultural and social public place. When completed in 12 months, the plaza will welcome concerts, markets and just about any event that celebrates life as we know it, love it and live it here in the Triangle.
Design elements of the plaza include flexible seating, an interactive water fountain, planters and trees. The design of the plaza was a collaborative effort of the City of Raleigh, the City’s design consultant, Kimley-Horn and Associates; and the Project of Public Spaces, a New York-based firm specializing in the analysis and design of public gathering spaces. The design was developed with considerable input from the public and from City boards and commissions at design workshops in the fall of 2006. Kimley-Horn is an engineering and land planning firm with an office in Downtown Raleigh.
Artist Jim Galluci is designing light towers that will allow for varying levels of lights for different needs. The four 55-foot light towers will be the plaza’s signature. (See one of the light towers erected. ) The lower designs integrate LED lights, stainless steel oak leaves and a hidden area that will contain power/electrical panels that are to be used for various plaza events. The towers also offer a granite bumper seat to accommodate visitors to the plaza in need of a break. The project also contains bollards throughout the plaza that incorporate the Raleigh-themed oak leaf design and lights. The bollards are positioned to control traffic.
The opening of City Plaza in the autumn of 2009 will add greatly to Fayetteville Street’s claim as “North Carolina’s Main Street” and further enhance Downtown Raleigh’s metamorphosis into the heart of the Triangle and the hottest spot in the South.
On July 1, 2008, final funding was approved by the Raleigh City Council. The City Plaza is meant to become the new active heart of downtown. It features a central space capable of hosting every event from music, parades, markets and special events. The central space with be lined with four retail pavilions offering new food, drink and shopping opportunities in the plaza space. High tech projection, a programmable fountain, LED lighting and smart infrastructure are key elements of the plan.
On Feb. 6, 2007, the Raleigh City Council approved the schematic design of the new City Plaza in the 500 block of Fayetteville Street. The design concept seeks to create a plaza, or public gathering place, that reinforces Raleigh’s image as being one of the most livable cities in the country.
Larger images of the below views and renderings:
Workshop Results:
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