Arlington County
Courthouse Square Community Outreach Workshop
23 April 2014
Cooper, Robertson & Partners Architecture, Urban Designwith Buro Happold, HR&A, Kimley –Horn, Nelson Nygaard, & Tactical Aesthetics 1
PURPOSE OF THE EVENING
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COMMUNITY WORKSHOP 2:EXERCISES AND STATIONS
• 1 GENERAL INFORMATION
• 2 ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
• 3A BUILDING DESIGN LOCATION
• 3B BUILDING DESIGN LOCATION
• 4A CIRCULATION
• 4B CIRCULATION
• 5A OPEN SPACE
• 5B OPEN SPACE
• 6A CULTURAL RESOURCES
• 6B CULTURAL RESOURCES
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03/26/2014 COMMUNITY WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS
Building Location and Design
1. Opportunity for exceptional architectural design
2. Consider all parcel options on the square
3. There should be a variety of building heights
4. Buildings should create the open space
5. Shadows created should be studied carefully
6. Consider a consolidation of government functions
7. New buildings should be mixed-use
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03/26/2014 COMMUNITY WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS
Circulation
1. Make County parking lot open space
2. Consider 15th and 14th part of the open space in some capacity
3. Multimodal flexibility
4. Trees ⁄ green not just concrete and metal
5. Better pedestrian and bike linkages, more bike friendly
6. Address parking needs through other means than surface parking
7. Address orientation from metro exits
8. Metro entrances dark, could be better lit
9. Signage for Metro/bike and pedestrian needs improvement
10. Look at making Uhle pedestrian
11. Improve pedestrian safety and make more pedestrian friendly
12. Provide space for food trucks
13. Difficult to orient in car6
03/26/2014 COMMUNITY WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS
Open Space
1. More Activities: i.e. concerts, festivals, events, outdoor movies
2. More Trees and areas to sit in shade
3. More Pubic Art, interactive art, temporary art, sustainable art
4. Too much concrete and asphalt
5. Need more multi-use open space with active edges
6. Need a place to relax an reflect
7. More Markets
8. Incorporate Food Trucks
9. Create a place to gather, social space for all people
10. Create a place to visit 18 hour/day
11. Water feature/fountain
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03/26/2014 COMMUNITY WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTSCultural Resources
1.Much of the development in the area is bland and needs character
2.Space and buildings that reflect Arlington
3.Bring in local artist that know the place
4.Creatively integrate patios/restaurants/bars around the public space
5.Create a place that has a variety of activities for all types of people
6.Size of space not as important as activation of site.
7.Bringing the statue back from Clarendon to the square, creating the background for civic events.
8.Bring personality to the square!
9.Bring educational ⁄ artistic experiences in this area to make it unique from other sections of county.
10.Open lawn for sitting, picnics and socializing.
11.Interactive public art such as things kids can climb on and other ideas.
12.Courthouse needs to build and expand on existing activity (i.e. weekend markets) with new activities, i.e. bowling alley,
performance stage, etc.
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03/26/2014 COMMUNITY WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS
Sustainability
1.Visibly capture stormwater
2.Generate power for space from solar
3.New buildings should be net neutral or positive energy
4.There should be green roofs with some public roof access on every building
5.There is an educational opportunity to “pay it forward”
6.Become a showcase for green energy globally
7.Minimize light pollution
8.Maximize opportunities on roofs for activity, harnessing energy and water mitigation and usage
9.Become a place that draws people due to its sustainable culture
10.60% rise in efficiency gain
11.Consolidate chillers, heaters, or combined heat/power
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DRAFT DESIGN PRINCIPLES
1. Establish an identity for the square:
• Courthouse square is for___________________.
2. Create an attractive accessible inclusive public space that accommodates and encourages civic
discourse, and County identity.
3. Connect pedestrian circulation of Courthouse Square to improve public transit access.
4. Encourage optimal use of streets to achieve, an active public realm with safe pedestrian passage.
5. Incorporate sustainability best practices throughout all aspects of the development, with particular
attention paid to energy and stormwater management in line with Arlington County's policies. Identify
opportunities for efficiencies from district level energy production.
6. Accommodate parking needs through means that add value to the Courthouse Square area.
7. Preserve significant views both into and out of Courthouse Square.
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DRAFT DESIGN PRINCIPLES
8. Use existing topography to celebrate the plateau, ease pedestrian movements, and create a cohesive
experience of the three-dimensional opportunities of the site.
9. Maximize the opportunity to create active frontage on Courthouse Square and the surrounding area.
10. Build on the existing activities of Courthouse Square to foster 18 hour a day use throughout the week.
11. Create opportunities and infrastructure for public entertainment, public discourse, performance, and
community gathering.
12. Celebrate Courthouse Square’s rich history by integrating relevant existing historic and historical
elements into new design concepts.
13. Integrate strategies for education, sustainability, social and physical health, and public art,
throughout the area.
14. Foster new development that will be distinct to Arlington, and integrate accessible programs, perform
sustainably, and embrace the civic nature and cultural significance of Courthouse Square.
15. Augment the existing tree canopy with additional plantings in new open space and streetscapes.
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COMMUNITY WORKSHOP 2:EXERCISES AND STATIONS
• 1 GENERAL INFORMATION
• 2 ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
• 3A BUILDING DESIGN LOCATION
• 3B BUILDING DESIGN LOCATION
• 4A CIRCULATION
• 4B CIRCULATION
• 5A OPEN SPACE
• 5B OPEN SPACE
• 6A CULTURAL RESOURCES
• 6B CULTURAL RESOURCES
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