PLAZA 33 | NEW YORK CITY, NY

Plaza 33 The area around Penn Station is one of the grittiest and busiest in NYC. Our client, a large property owner in the area, wanted to change its identity. For a few months last summer, the space was given over to the pedestrian. Plaza 33, a temporary pilot project, closed off 33rd Street between Seventh Ave and the Madison Square Garden loading area. The project was designed and implemented in six weeks. The design played on the asymmetrical existing conditions of the street. The street edge on the south side was elevated and lined with heavy planter walls and stairs. The north side was not elevated and included a mid-block pedestrian corridor. To open the upper level to the street, we convinced the client to tear down several of the walls and planters and to create a continuous stair (with the exception of the planter with the existing standpipes) along 33rd Street as a permanent condition in concrete. The temporary planters, benches and bleacher seating areas were built out of timber framing and were added to both the public and private areas of the project to unify them. The surface of the street and the sidewalks were also painted in the same grey and white pattern, further unifying the space. The layout of the new amenities carefully allows for thru pedestrian traffic, which is very heavy in the area, as well as places to get out of the flow and people watch, eat lunch or just gather with friends. The main bleacher seating element is multifunctional, incorporating stage, seating viewing and planting areas. Its height screens the loading dock and allows views to the Empire State Building and Seventh Ave illuminated signage. It is also divided into two to allow for thru pedestrian traffic in a planter lined passageway. Benches with integrated planters line both sides of the street, and were placed to discourage street vendors. Street vendors were encouraged to stay closer to Seventh Avenue. Loose tables and chairs were set in the center of the street. Two sculptures were positioned in the space. The first “S-Man” by Keith Haring, was centered on the mid block pedestrian corridor. The second Roy Lichtenstein’s “Brushstroke Group” was placed near the plaza entrance on 7th Avenue.

PLAZA 33 | Fact Sheet

Overview of plaza

7th Ave.

33rd St.

Madison Square Garden

Penn Station

PLAZA 33 | The plan brings together public and private areas into a unified pedestrian realm

Bench with integrated planter Movable tables and chairs Fire truck access “S-Men“

Existing standpipes to remain

Stair bench

Madison Square Garden & loading deck Existing entrance and fence to remain

Demo existing planters

“Brushstroke“ Bleacher seating

New concrete stair

Future food court (Now Open)

Entrance to Penn Station

PLAZA 33 | Paint, cumaru and meadow plants transform the space while maintaining pedestrian flow

PLAZA 33 | Morning view looking north from food court mezzanine

PLAZA 33 | New concrete stair, painted with platform benches to encourage lingering

PLAZA 33 | Former street entrance from Seventh Avenue

PLAZA 33 | Bleacher seating divided to allow for through pedestrian passage – planted edges

PLAZA 33 | Bleacher seating screens Madison Square Garden loading dock

PLAZA 33 | The bleacher platform allows for multiple types of activities

PLAZA 33 | Activities spill from the bleacher onto the street

PLAZA 33 | Night view with bleacher lighting and Empire State Building

BEFORE

AFTER

PLAZA 33 | Former concrete planter edge transformed into an open, continuous plaza

BEFORE

AFTER

PLAZA 33 | Former street transformed temporarily into a pedestrian space for gathering and public events

BEFORE

AFTER

PLAZA 33 | The integrated urban furniture and the painted ground unify public and private streetscapes