Schuylkill Arch Park
An Urban Floodplain Park by Alex Hoxsie
Contents
Inventory and Analysis regional and city scale: Philadelphia context
2
land use comparison with iconic Philadelphia squares
4
neighborhood scale: arrival + access
6
flooding - rise of the Schuylkill
7
site scale: existing conditions
8
Design: Schuylkill Arch Park design objectives: concepts + programs
10
proposed site plan: Schuylkill Arch Park
12
proposed site vegetation: native plant communities
14
the study model
16
perspective studies
18
Schuylkill Arch: multifunctional open space, urban floodplain Public Lands Design Studio - Temple University Dept. of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture Advisors: Baldev Lamba, Hallie Boyce, Skip Graffam Designer: Alex Hoxsie - December 2014
S C H U Y L K I L L A R C H
Page 1
Inventory and Analysis: regional and city scale: Philadelphia context Philadelphia
2 0 0 M il e s
1 0 0 M il e s
Pittsburgh
New York
Harrisburg
Schuylkill River
Philadelphia
Baltimore D.C.
Delaware River
A Hub in the Mid-Atlantic Center City
A City Between Two Rivers
Schuylkill Arch Park
Major Thoroughfares
Highways
Ben Franklin Parkway Broad Street
Logan Square Franklin Square
Schuylkill River
City Hall Rittenhouse Square
Market Stre
et
Washington Square
Philadelphia’s Five Historic Squares in the Modern City Page 2
Delaware River
Adding to Green Space, Connecting with Nature Schuylkill Arch Park fits into, and enhances, the mosaic of public park space in Philadelphia. Located along the Schuylkill Banks Trail, the site is connected to the Schuylkill River and the Fairmount Park system upstream.
Fairmount Park
A Park Surrounded by Philadelphia Landmarks Schuylkill Arch Park is located on the east side of the Schuylkill Riveropposite 30th Street Station and amidst a number of diverse Philadelphia destinations that include: transportation, museums, offices, parks, and major roadways.
Schuylkill Arch Park
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Philadelphia’s Sixth Square Although it has evolved since its founding, the basic layout of Philadelphia remains true to its original design. This is especially evident in the continued prominence of City Hall and the four major squares (Logan, Rittenhouse, Franklin, and Washington). However, considering its modern population, there is a need for more parks woven into the urban fabric. Schuylkill Arch Park, Philadelphia’s sixth square, satisfies this public need.
Logan Square Cira Center 30th Street Station
Schuylkill Arch Park PECO Building City Hall Rittenhouse Square
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Inventory and Analysis: land use comparison with iconic philadelphia squares Commercial
Multi-Family Residential
Single-Family Residential
Institutional
Industrial
Rittenhouse Square This popular park is located in the heart of downtown Philadelphia between dense commercial and residential zoning districts. The location means that primary users don’t have to travel far to take advantage of the space. The mixed user demographic ensures that the park is occupied both day and night.
Logan Square Located on the busy Ben Franklin Parkway, Logan Square is sourrounded by institutions such as the Franklin Institute, Academy of Natural Sciences, Barnes Foundation, Free Library of Philadelphia, and the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. This location makes it the hub of this cultural and intellectual destination in Philadelphia.
Schuylkill Arch Park Situated between Rittenhouse and Logan Squares, Schuylkill Arch Park will benefit from the combined activity of the residential, commercial, and institutional districts that surround it. The site is also uniquely accessible from 30th Street Station and the Schuylkill Banks Trail, further increasing its mixed user demographic.
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0
500
1000 Feet
Âą
Educational
Transportation
City Infrastructure
Hotels
Health Care
Religious
Commercial
Residential
Grocery Stores
Green Space
Parking Schuylkill Arch
Detailed Land Use in the Logan Square Neighborhood The Logan Square neighborhood has a diverse land-use pattern. All of this activity encourages similarly diverse usership within Schuylkill Arch Park. It’s a neighborhood park for those living nearby, a lunch spot for surrounding businesses, a stopping point for
0
500
1000 Feet
±
±
people enjoying the Schuylkill Banks Trail, and a respite for travelers coming to Philadelphia through 30th Street Station or visiting museums along the Ben Franklin Parkway.
Page 5
Inventory and Analysis: neighborhood scale: arrival + access 30th Street Station
Schuylkill Banks Trail
One-way
Major Route
23rd Stre
et
Schuylkill River
Train Tracks
22nd Stre
et
Race Stre
et
Cherry St
reet
Arch Stre
et
JFK Boule vard
Traffic Patterns Surrounding Schuylkill Arch Park Page 6
Market S
treet
flooding - rise of the Schuylkill
Schuylkill River
100-Year Flood Plain
Project Site
30th Street Station
6
City Edge/Schuylkill Banks Trail
4
8
Streets 36
Schuylkill Arch Park in Relation to the Floodplain
+12.5’
100 Year Flood +3.5’ -3.5’
High Tide Low Tide
The Schuylkill River is tidal in its lower reaches, including where it passes Schuylkill Arch Park. Daily fluctuations in water level Schuylkill do not effect the site, but do Banks Trail/ exascerbate floods such that Project Site the river rises to an elevation of +12.5’ during 100-year storms.
Schuylkill River Page 7
Inventory and Analysis: site scale: existing conditions `
Cherry S
Site Zones and Acreage
t.
The Schuylkill Arch site is 5 acres in size and comprised of three distinct zones: Parking Lot Floodplain Area (3.4 acres) The majority of the site is an open parking lot at elevations of +4’ to +7’ that is prone to flooding. Underpass Area (1.3 acres) On higher ground (between +8’ and +12’), this area is weather-protected and ties into the surrounding urban infrastructure. JFK Entrance and Overlook (0.3 acres) This elevated area is acccessible from 30th Street Station but lacks connection to the rest of the site.
Arch St.
.
23rd St
JFK Blvd
.
Rail Lines and the Schuylkill Bulkhead
Cherry S
t.
1
2 Arch St.
.
23rd St
JFK Blvd
.
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1
2
Typical of urban rivers, the banks of the Schuylkill are channelized with a concrete bulkhead, giving the river a well-defined, unchanging shape. This shape is mimicked by the Schuylkill Banks Trail, the adjacent rail lines, and the edge of the urban grid.
Sight Lines
Cherry S
t.
n tatio S t e e h Str
30t
Cira
Cen ter Arch St.
.
23rd St
30th Street Station SEPTA Rail Bridge
JFK Blvd
.
Cira Center
Access
Cherry S
t.
There are three intersections on the site where converging pedestrain and vehicle paths create natural access points.
Arch St.
Where Cherry Street dead ends a pedestrian path provides access to the Schuylkill Banks Trail. However, the track crossing is more easily accessed by Race Street one block to the north.
.
23rd St
JFK Blvd
.
Page 9
Design Objectives: concepts + programs Three Zones
Bulkhead Edge N A T U R A L T E M P O R A R Y
Native Plantings
Food Trucks
Fairs, Markets, Galleries
Pier Structures
Outdoor Seating
Lower Plaza
Stormwater Capture
Schuylkill River
30th Street Station
Upper Plaza
Central Hill
Elevator Building
The concept is to create multifunctionality by developing gradients across the site that increase programming opportunities by diversifying the character of the park. Page 10
H I G H
D R Y
Underpass Room
Underpass Gallery
P E R M A N E N T
JFK Overlook
Floodplain
Wetland
C L A S S I C A L
B U I L T
Cafe
L O W
W E T
Bulkhead Promenade
Street Trees
Apartments on Cherry
M O D E R N
Connected Nodes
Major Sight Lines
1 Bulkhead Promenade 2 Upper Plaza
15
3 Pier Structures 6 1
5 Arch Street Entrance
8
6 Cherry Street Entrance 7 Schuylkill Arch Plaza
4
2
8 Food Trucks
7
3
5 16 12 13
4 Central Hill
9 Cafe 10 Underpass Gallery 11 JFK Overlook
9,14 10
11
12 Outdoor Flex Space 13 Schuylkill Banks Entrance 14 Indoor Rental Space 15 Functional Bulkhead 16 Function + Education
The primary feature is a constructed plane that rises to the western edge of the site. There it forms a secondary bulkhead that prevents flooding and creates a stylistic tie to the bulkhead at the river’s edge. Page 11
Proposed Site Plan: Schuylkill Arch Park
C
Cherry St.
A
Arch St.
B 23rd St.
Commuter Rail
JFK Blvd.
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0
100
200 Feet
Âą
Existing Grade
Section A
0
50
100 Feet
0
50
100 Feet
0
25
50 Feet
Section from Arch Street up the proposed main hill to the Upper Plaza and Pier Structures. The Pier Structures provide access to the Schuylkill River over the existing rail lines and Schuylkill Bank Trail.
JFK Blvd.
Section B
Section of the Underpass Gallery and the JFK Overlook.
Section C
Cherry St.
Section of the wetland area and the Lower Plaza along 23rd Street beyond in relation to Cherry Street
Page 13
Proposed Site Vegetation: native plant communities
Page 14
TREES
FLO
SHRUBS
OD
P
LA
IN
Smooth Alder (Alnus serrulata) Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
R
E
Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) Swamp Azalea (Rhododendron viscosum) Fetter Bush (Leucothoe racemosa) Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
SHRUBS
AT F RE SH W
Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica) Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor) Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) Box-elder (Acer negundo)
F O R ES T
HERBS
Broadleaf Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia) Annual Wild Rice (Zizania aquatica) River Bulrush (Schoenplectus fluviatilis) Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) Pickerelweed (Pontedaria cordata) Crimson Rosemallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) Primrose Willow (Ludwiga peploides)
TI
DA
L W E TL A ND
GRASSES
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex Pensylvanica) Poverty Grass (Danthonia spicata) Common Hairgrass (Deschampsia felxuosa)
WILDFLOWERS
MEA
AR
EAS
FESCUE MIX - LAWN GRASSES
Typical non-native lawn grass mixes.
NATIVE* LAWN GRASSES
Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica) Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) Hop Hornbeam (Ostrya virginica) Willow Oak (Quercus phellos) Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra) Box-elder (Acer negundo)
R N AT I V E S T
DO
W
Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Gray-headed Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) Pearly Everlasting (Anaphilis margaritacea) Sundrop (Oenothera fruticosa) Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) Wild Lupine (Lupinus prennis)
EE
TT REES
LA
Buffalo Grass (Bouteloua dactyloides) Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis) * Native to the North American Plains
W
N
AR
EAS Page 15
Getting a Feel for the Park: the study model
Cherry Street
23rd Street
Arch Street Entrance
The Bulkhead from the Schuylkill Banks Trail Page 16
JFK Boulevard
Piers Overlooking the River
Forest Area
Manicured Landscape
Lower Plaza at Arch Street Entrance
Page 17
Getting a Feel for the Park: perspective studies
Underpass Gallery + Market
B e t h e s d a Te r r a c e , C e n t r a l Pa r k , N e w Yo r k C i t y
Hall of Mirrors, Palace at Versailles - Rococo
The underpass is a liminal space; somewhere on the continuum between indoor and outdoor. Rococo-style decor contrasts the natural forms in the park, the neoclassical 30th Street Station, and the industrial overpass; this makes the underpass room fit into the gradient of structural styles across the site.
Page 18
Palazzo Colonna, Rome Late Baroque, Rococo
Upper + Lower Paths; Lawn + Wetland + Plaza The hierarchy of paths in Schuylkill Arch Park diversifies the visitor experience by creating multiple ways to interact with the different natural and program elements in the space.
Upper Plaza View Across the Schuylkill River to 30th Street Station The Upper Plaza and Pier Structures are the final destinations for visitors drawn upward by the major sightlines. Upon arrival, however, new views of the Schuylkill Banks Trail and the river are revealed, changing the way visitors perceive the park.
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S C H U Y L K I L L A R C H
Schuylkill Arch: multifunctional open space, urban floodplain Public Lands Design Studio - Temple University Dept. of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture Advisors: Baldev Lamba, Hallie Boyce, Skip Graffam Designer: Alex Hoxsie - December 2014