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