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Liberty Bank Building – ULI Americas Awards for Excellence Finalist
Learn more about 2022 ULI Americas Awards for Excellence Finalist, Liberty Bank Building (Seattle, WA).
Civic Space Park – ULI Americas Awards for Excellence Finalist
May 11, 2022
Photo By AECOM
The undulating shade structures support photovoltaic panels that still allow some light to pass through, and produce 75,000 kWh annually. Porous concrete, permeable pavers, and decomposed granite are used throughout the site to allow water recharge.
Photo By Arizona Central
An outdoor stage attached to the back of the A.E. England Building hosts live music and movie events throughout the year.
Location: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Developer: City of Phoenix Department of Parks & Recreation
Designers: EDAW | AECOM (Jay Hicks and Chad Atterbury)
Site Size: 2.77 Acres
Photo By Dig Studio
Using a combination of shade trees and undulating shade structures, the design will shade 70% of the site at full maturity.
Civic Space Park is a 2.77-acre open space in the heart of Phoenix and the downtown campus of Arizona State University (ASU). The park is the result of a unique partnership between the City of Phoenix and ASU, to bring vitality to the downtown. A city bond election funded the park, as well as adjacent ASU facilities. Through this partnership there is a formal agreement for ongoing operation and maintenance of the park and buildings. The park supports varied activities, hosting 150,000 visitors for programmed events, and a total of about 2.3 million visitors throughout the year.
Photo By AECOM
Stormwater is collected and filtered into a groundwater infiltration system, preserving all water that falls on the site.
Civic Space Park includes multiuse event lawns, shaded seating areas, an outdoor performance venue, the A.E. England Building – a renovated historic car dealership with a large meeting/classroom, a public café, and other spaces. Circulation meanders through the park on diagonals that connect to a transit station at the southeast corner. The integrating concept for the park is that of an “urban weave” tying the park into the fabric of downtown and bringing together a diverse and growing population. The park is actively used by a wide variety of people, drawing surrounding residents, students who attend classes and/or live in the area, downtown office workers, and people from other parts of the city as well.
Photo By Dig Studio
Food trucks are hosted on the main plaza each Friday, with seating under the nearby shade structure.
The park is renowned for a prominent Jane Echelman art installation “Her Secret is Patience” which hovers above park, suspended from tall pylons, and night lit to create an icon for the downtown. Many environmentally sensitive features are included in the design, including photo-voltaic panels on shade structures, permeable paving, and underground detention tanks for ground water recharge and a tree canopy that shades over 60% of the park.