Central Plaza

Washington University in St. Louis

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Project Details
Size
0.2 acres
Year
2015
Location
St. Louis, MO
Collaborators
Honors
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Project Summary

Prior to the East End Transformation, the Central Plaza was an elevated space that connected the main entrances of Steinberg Hall and the Kemper Art Museum at the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts (SFS) at Washington University in St. Louis. 

“Fragmented Terrain” was an unbuilt design for the Central Plaza that proposes a creative, low-cost activation strategy to address infrastructure decay issues and create usable space for SFS students, faculty, visitors and staff ahead of the planned East End Transformation. “Fragmented Terrain” proposed capping areas of extreme surface decay with a ground mural, sculptural deck structures and two shade pavilions. 

Painted bands of colors taken from the SFS logo, which represent the various schools and institutions within SFS, formed an implied rectangular space at the center of the plaza. 

The deck platforms occupied the interior of the square ground mural. Their shapes were a result of tracing major circulation lines and “fragmenting” the resulting shapes to create interior areas for small gatherings. Users were envisioned to sit around the square perimeter, gather in the interior areas with friends, as well as climb, sit or recline on the deck fragments. 

This proposal also imagined the activation of the lower lawn area with improved access, an informal amphitheater space, new plantings and movable furniture. 

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Documentation
Concept sketch for programming and circulation for central plaza at washington university campus st louis misosuri by arbolope studio
An early concept sketch exploring the use of a formal grid to define fields of color and programming activation.
Concept sketch and process of central plaza at washington university campus st louis misosuri by arbolope studio
Close to the final concept, this version begins to show the development of a banding typology on the Plaza surface.
Programming concept sketch for central plaza at washington university campus st louis misosuri by arbolope studio
Using desire lines and traffic patterns, the team determined key areas of high traffic or high gathering interest, using that data to inform key site furnishing decisions.
Illustrated plan diagram for central plaza at washington university campus st louis misosuri by arbolope studio
Rendering illustration mockup for inside the central courtyard at washington university st. louis missouri by arbolope studio.

Central Plaza

Washington University in St. Louis

Location

St. Louis, MO

Size

0.2 acres

Services

Landscape Architecture
Public Art
Furniture Design
Landscape on Structure

Completion

2015

Collaborators
Honors & Awards

Prior to the East End Transformation, the Central Plaza was an elevated space that connected the main entrances of Steinberg Hall and the Kemper Art Museum at the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts (SFS) at Washington University in St. Louis. 

“Fragmented Terrain” was an unbuilt design for the Central Plaza that proposes a creative, low-cost activation strategy to address infrastructure decay issues and create usable space for SFS students, faculty, visitors and staff ahead of the planned East End Transformation. “Fragmented Terrain” proposed capping areas of extreme surface decay with a ground mural, sculptural deck structures and two shade pavilions. 

Painted bands of colors taken from the SFS logo, which represent the various schools and institutions within SFS, formed an implied rectangular space at the center of the plaza. 

The deck platforms occupied the interior of the square ground mural. Their shapes were a result of tracing major circulation lines and “fragmenting” the resulting shapes to create interior areas for small gatherings. Users were envisioned to sit around the square perimeter, gather in the interior areas with friends, as well as climb, sit or recline on the deck fragments. 

This proposal also imagined the activation of the lower lawn area with improved access, an informal amphitheater space, new plantings and movable furniture. 

Concept sketch for programming and circulation for central plaza at washington university campus st louis misosuri by arbolope studio Concept sketch and process of central plaza at washington university campus st louis misosuri by arbolope studio Programming concept sketch for central plaza at washington university campus st louis misosuri by arbolope studio
An early concept sketch exploring the use of a formal grid to define fields of color and programming activation.
Close to the final concept, this version begins to show the development of a banding typology on the Plaza surface.
Using desire lines and traffic patterns, the team determined key areas of high traffic or high gathering interest, using that data to inform key site furnishing decisions.
Illustrated plan diagram for central plaza at washington university campus st louis misosuri by arbolope studio
Rendering illustration mockup for inside the central courtyard at washington university st. louis missouri by arbolope studio.