snohetta to redesign times square

times square, new york city image courtesy of billings jackson design

a team led by norwegian architectural office snøhetta has won the design competition to create pedestrian plazas along a section of new york’s broadway, including times square. the main objective of the design will be to improve the pedestrian experience in the plazas as well as the infrastructure for the various events held in times square throughout the year. the design competition was organized under mayor bloomberg’s ‘design and construction excellence‘ program by the city department of design and construction.

the transition of broadway between herald square and columbus circle into a pedestrian friendly boulevard began in may 2009 with a pilot study established by mayor bloomberg. london-based office billings jackson design worked on surface treatments, zoning and street furniture for this temporary trial, joining the snohetta team when bloomberg confirmed that the removal of vehicular traffic would be made permanent.

construction of the new project will start in 2012 and in the interim, a temporary surface treatment entitled, ‘cool water, hot island’ by artist molly dilworth is to be installed.

the winning team also includes weidlinger associates, WXY architecture and design, matthew nielsen and bexel.

‘cool water, hot island’ by molly dilworth in times square, new york image courtesy of molly dilworth

image courtesy of molly dilworth

image courtesy of molly dilworth