On October 23, 2009, Mayor Charles Meeker snipped the ribbon on the dedication stone and threw the switch on an interactive fountain, into which other officials and celebrants tossed commemorative coins opening Raleigh’s City Plaza.
Mayor Meeker thanked the two City Councils that supported the $14.8 million conversion of the 500 block of Fayetteville Street. The block had been the former site of the old Raleigh Civic Center that was begun in 1976 and opened in 1977. The block had been barren since Feb. 19, 2006, when the former civic center was imploded to make way for the revitalization of Fayetteville Street.
The Mayor also paid tribute to the City’s construction management team, led by the project’s manager, Bob Panella; the plaza’s engineer and landscape architect, Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc.; and the contractor, Holder Construction Co., all of whom worked together to complete the project on time and on budget.
The Mayor also saluted the six artists who contributed to the distinctive signature of the plaza, especially Greensboro artist Jim Gallucci, creator of the four, 55-foot City of Oaks light towers. Mr. Meeker also thanked the members of the City’s Art Commission who led the task of choosing and obtaining the temporary art installations on the plaza’s pedestals.
Mayor Meeker also announced that the City is providing WiFi free in Downtown Raleigh. He thanked WindChannel and Cisco for partnering with the City to bring this service free to Downtown residents, workers and visitors.
Groundbreaking
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, 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 designed light towers that allow for varying levels of lights for different needs. The four 55-foot light towers are the plaza’s signature. 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.
