San Francisco 2018
Public Space + Public Life in Civic Center Public Space Public Life Survey Key Findings and a Framework for Public Life 1
Gehl in collaboration with San Francisco Planning conducted a Public Space + Public Life Study of Civic Center in Summer 2017. John Rahaim, Planning Director Neil Hrushowy, Manager, City Design Group Nick Perry, Plan Manager Patrick Race, Assistant Plan Manager Ben Caldwell, Urban Designer Carla Wietgrefe, Intern
The Study sets a baseline for life and space in the Civic Center district. This baseline allows the City to identify challenges and opportunities to amplify public life in Civic Center. It also allows the City to measure progress towards target public life outcomes during interim activation events and future phases of physical improvements. A strategic framework for amplifying public life in Civic Center also accompanies this document.
John Bela, Partner, Director Blaine Merker, Partner, Director Anna Muessig, Project Manager Alex Schuknecht, Designer Celsa Dockstadar, Designer Tyler Jones, Designer Mario Rodas, Designer
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
You can find more information about the Civic Center Public Space design here civiccentersf.org You can find this document, and other Gehl projects here issuu.com/gehlarchitects/
2
Survey Volunteers
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Robin Abad Christy Alexander Svetha Ambati Sirichon Boonprakob Ryan Booth Anne Brask Iman Bright Ben Caldwell Joan Campos Jenni Cen Joanna Chan Natalie Chyba Liene Cikanovica Jorgen Cleemann Rucha Dande Maria De Alva Donna Dessart Debbie Eng Jackson Eng Chris Escobedo Lisa Fisher John Francis Julie Fukunaga Manuela Galindo Max Gara Joan Gerigk Ian Griffiths Chris Guillard Lauren Hackney Jordan Harrison
Radha Hayagreev Micah Hilt Wendy Ho Cassie Hoeprich Ashley Hong Seung Yen Hong Maya Hovey Neil Hrushowy Bjorn Hubert-Wallander Claude Imbault Kyle James Joann Kuo Michelle Langlie Lily Langlois Kevin Lenhart Kenneth Levy Diane Livia Jessica Look Casey Lowdermilk Bettina Mateo Phoebe Meixner Spencer Michael Anna Misharina Ella Morgulis Willett Moss Andrea Nelson Jennifer Norris Nineveh O’Connell Claire Padien-Havens Satyajit Pande
Sneha Parmar Jeremy Patfield Joe Peltier Nick Perry Jessica Prasad Patrick Race lana Rainero-de Haan Susannah Raub Molly Riddle Ilaria Salvadori Emilie Schattman Sibylle Scholz Meg Wall Shui Valentina Simi Tara Singh Brian Stokle Mimi Tam Rachael Tanner Aileen Tat Kansai Uchida Kevin Utschig Anush Venkatesan Syd Wayman Carla Wietgrefe Peter Winch Nico Wright Melanie Yee Yosef Yip 3
Executive Summary
Public Life in Civic Center isn’t living up to its potential. The District’s grand architecture and ceremonial public spaces were designed to inspire awe and serve as ceremonial gathering spaces, not meet the needs of people who live or work nearby. Over decades, the few human-scale elements have been removed. There is too much empty public space in Civic Center, and too few invitations to be there. Today, many of the people spending time in Civic Center’s public spaces have nowhere else to go. The effects of larger social issues like homelessness and drug use have become synonymous with the space. We can’t wait for these complex issues to be solved before we do something to improve public life. Design alone cannot solve the challenges in Civic Center - but it can help. Civic Center’s public spaces deserve unique, compelling invitations that give more people a reason to be there. Programming, food, appealing landscape elements, and recreation facilities encourage people to come, and make people passing through feel welcome to stay. Progress is only possible through a coordinated effort towards a common vision. Design, programming, social services, stewardship, and communications must work together for the kind of life we want to see in Civic Center. It starts with a Framework for Public Life.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
4
Is Civic Center living up to its name?
Civic Center \ ‘si-vik \ Adjective 1. Relating to a city or town, especially its administration; municipal. 2. Relating to the duties or activities of people in relation to their town, city, or local area.
Origin: Mid 16th century: from French civique or Latin civicus, from civis ‘citizen’. The original use was in civic garland, crown, etc., translating Latin corona civica, denoting a garland of oak leaves and acorns given in ancient Rome to a person who saved a fellow citizen’s life.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
5
Is Civic Center living up to its name?
Civic Center /’sen-ter/ Noun 1. The point that is equally distant from every point on the circumference of a circle or sphere. 2. The point from which an activity or process is directed, or on which it is focused. 3. A place or group of buildings where a specified activity is concentrated. Origin: Late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin centrum, from Greek kentron ‘sharp point, stationary point of a pair of compasses’, related to kentein ‘to prick’.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
6
Contents
8 Background + Context 29 Key Findings 121 Framework for Public Life 173 Evaluation Matrix
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
7
Background + Context Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
8
Background + Context
Civic Center is ready for a change The Civic Center district’s public realm is overdue for an update. Adjacent neighborhoods like the Tenderloin lack public space. The existing neighborhood’s need for high quality public space will only grow as people continue to move to the district, and as the area continues to grow as an arts and culture hub. The City has identified the transit-rich Hub district near Civic Center as a strategic area for more people to live in San Francisco.
The most recent plan for the Civic Center’s public realm is nearly 20 years old. Public Works-led “Civic Center Historic District Improvement Project” by SMWM and Olin Partnership.
Since the 1990s, the area has grown as both an arts and culture district and a residential neighborhood.
These forces, past and present, have changed and will continue to change the demands people have on the public realm. ACT Strand Theater
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
New construction
New growth at Market/ VanNess 9
Background + Context
Civic Center Public Realm Plan Components The Civic Center Public Realm Plan will create a unified vision for long-term improvements to Civic Center’s plazas, streets, and other public spaces. The Plan is an inter-agency effort managed by San Francisco Planning and is part of the City’s ongoing efforts to improve the area as both a neighborhood gathering space and common area for everyone who lives in, works in and visits San Francisco. More information about the plan can be found at www.civiccentersf.org
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
10
Background + Context
Guiding Question:
How can Civic Center continue to serve as one of the city’s primary civic and ceremonial gathering places while also providing a safe, comfortable and welcoming environment for everyday users? Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
11
Background + Context
Public Life Study: Putting people at the center of urban change
San Francisco uses public life surveys to inform the neighborhood planning process. Learn more here: sf-planning.org/public-space-and-public-life-studies
Public Life surveys have been performed around the globe by Gehl and partner cities. In some places, like Sydney and Copenhagen, Public Life data is an integrated part of the city planning process and is used to gauge success according to public life benchmarks. It is no coincidence that these cities are ranked as some of the world’s most liveable places. When cities use public life data to guide their design and policies, the outcome is better for people. Download the Public Life Data Protocol: www.gehlinstitute.com
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
12
Background + Context Background + Context
Decode the Everyday Why a Public Space Public Life (PSPL) study? To find human stories To inform strategy and design To provide evidence on which to base objective choices To benchmark progress To discover new opportunities To create urgency for change
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
We come here for the opera - but we rush through Civic Center.
This is my neighborhood open space - Why are there so few public benches?
13
Background + Context
How and when to measure
M e a s u re
M e a s u re
M e a s u re
st
Te
st
Te
ne
Te
R e fi
• Evaluate indicators during interim activation events, compare against baseline, and use to adjust strategic vision
ne
ne
• The Public Space Public Life study of Civic Center informs an Evaluation Matrix that benchmarks key public life indicators (see part 4)
R e fi
R e fi
A data-driven approach to amplifying public life in Civic Center
st
0238
Strategic Vision Pilot
e fin e R
Pilot
e fin e R
Pilot
• Perform spot-counts every 2-3 years • Perform full public life study every 3-5years
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Pilot
The measure-test-refine approach to Civic Center’s design
14
Background + Context
The Civic Center Commons Initiative can pilot concepts from the Public Realm Plan Civic Center Commons has been bringing life to Civic Center’s key public spaces with free music, art, and activities. This study did not occur during a planned event, but these interim activations can test concepts from the Public Realm Plan, evaluate outcomes, and make recommendations for the long-term vision. More information about Civic Center Commons at: www.civiccentercommons.org
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Photos c/o Civic Center Commons + Groundplay SF
15
Background + Context
A city observes itself Nearly 100 volunteers collected the data that makes up this report. Numerous city agencies, budding urbanists, interested citizens, the Department of Public Health, Another Planet Entertainment, volunteers from the Opera, Stanford, Berkeley, and other educational institutions all participated. It was a citywide affair!
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
16
Background + Context
4 Snapshot Days + 2 spot-counts There is no typical day at Civic Center. We selected four days that represented different common activity profiles and supplemented these counts with two spot-counts to capture specific conditions.
“Quiet” Weekday
“Quiet” Weekend
“Busy” Weekday
“Busy” Weekend
Thursday, May 25 Cloudy until around noon Min 54°F Max 61°F Wind 2m/s
Saturday, June 10 Min 54°F Max 63°F Wind 4m/s
The survey ran from 8:00am to 8:00pm on each day unless noted.
Playgrounds Pre-construction
Night-time Counts 7pm-11pm
Saturday, February 11 Tuesday, February 13
Friday, September 22
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Thursday, June 7 Farmers’ Market @ UN Plaza, Warriors game at Civic Center Min 52°F Max 59°F Wind 4m/s
Saturday, May 27 Concert @ Bill Graham + Prom Min 54°F Max 61°F Wind 2m/s
17
Background + Context
There is no typical day in Civic Center
Women’s March
From daily weddings and civic business to weekly farmer’s markets to annual regional gatherings like Pride and protests, Civic Center has many facets of its public life, impacted by events with varying character, size, and frequency. The Public Life Study focused on events that happen in the daily and weekly rhythm. The Civic Center Commons initiative activates Civic Center’s public realm with free music, art, and activities. This study did not occur during a planned event.
The Opera
Small protest or vigil
Farmers’ Market
Wedding
PSPL Survey Measured everyday and weekly activities, as well as some monthly events
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Peoplewatching at lunch
18
Background + Context
ke t
JONES
TH NWOR LEAVE
HYDE
POLK
M id -M ar
SS
GOLDEN
ea s r A s u c Fo
GATE
h
7t
al Memori Cour t
FULTON
l Cit y Hal
nter Civic Ce Plaza
Fulton Street
GROVE
A
M
HAYES
ET K R
So M a
h
lley Hayes Va
TER MCALLIS
9t
Civic Center PSPL 2017
oin Tenderl
IN
Gehl — Making Cities for People
L FRANK
“The Commons” is used throughout this document to refer to the three public spaces that make up Civic Center’s grand axis.
GOUGH
The Public Space and Public Life survey looked at the entire Civic Center District, which borders neighboring Hayes Valley, SoMa, Mid-market, Tenderloin, and Little Saigon neighborhoods. Findings and recommendations focus on five areas and the streets that connect them.
TURK
VAN NE
Defining Civic Center
LARKIN
trict s i D r e t n Civic Ce
aigon S e l t t i L
a UN Plaz
Study Focus Areas Civic Center Commons “The Commons”
FELL
19
ORTH
KE S BI HU CK
AZA
4B
C
NTER IVIC CE
5B 5A
PLAZA
M
R
EA TE
TH AC T R EA TE TH
#A
Pedestrian Age and Gender Counts
TC OM
#A
B
DO
DA O
EM N
Pedestrian + Bike Counts
TC OM
T E RK
LB Y
Stationary Stationary Mapping Mapping / Age Gender Age and+Gender
/
HI W L HO TE
BL DG
Pedestrian Pedestrian + Bike+ Counts Counts
Plan Area
Cyclist
IT
TE
R
#A
TW
FELL
#A
h
A
M
OUND PLAYGR
Stationary Mapping / Age and Gender
9t
4D
LB Y
4C
h
2C
8t
A
ET K R
HI
2D
W
4C
4D
#A
B
h
8t
2B
2D
M ORPHEU R THEATE
6D
6D
2A
ZA
6C
6C
2A
MEMOR
UM ORPHE R THEATE
6B
UN PLA
7C
AC T
6A
L
RT IAL COU
FULTON
4A
7A 7B
HO TE
PL ENTER CIVIC C 1B 1A
LL
h
CITY HA
7C
6B
7D
ZA UN PLA
7t
4A
5D 7A 7B
6A
5B 5A
TER MCALLIS
2C
NK
BA VACANT
h 7t
IN 1C
HAYES
CHURCH
5C
3B
3A
2B
JONES
7D
INGS
3C
4B
ONY’S
ST. ANTH
UC HAST
GROVE
GROVE
5D
1D
LL CITY HA
HYDE
3A GATE GOLDEN
1B
LARKIN
SCHOOL
SS
GOUGH
L FRANK
VAN NE
3C
POLK
3B
TURK
locations were selected to capture the 1C ebb and flow of the public life of Civic Center, focused around its central public spaces.
5C
TH NWOR LEAVE
TINGS UC HAS
LE BE RR Y
SS
LIN FRANK
NK
RT IAL COU MEMOR
LTON
H
BA VACANT
Survey Locations
1A
ONY’S
H ST. ANT CHURC
1D The Public Life survey count
LISTER
RKI N
POLK
VAN NE
Background + Context
GATE
L SCHOO
#A
h
9t
Pedestrian Age Pedestrian Age and Gender Counts + Gender Counts
HAYES FELL Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
TE TW IT
OUND PLAYGR
R
BL
DG
Plan Plan AreaArea
and Public Space analysis focus area 20
Background + Context
Survey Methods Age and Gender Measuring people moving + spending time
Age & Gender (Pedestrians, 10 minutes) Surveyor #7
NAME:
DATE:
LOCATION:
TIME:
HOUR 4 AGE
MALE
FEMALE
0-4
Total
4-14
Total
strollers
kids
15-19
Total
teens high schoolers
Total
7B
20-29
Total
Total
30-64
Total
Total
65+
Total
Total
college young adults
adults
seniors
PROCEDURE:
Count pedestrians moving across the indicated line, noting age and gender for 100 people or 10 minutes, whichever comes first.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
21
Background + Context
Survey Methods People Moving Volumes of people walking and cycling
Pedestrian and Cyclist Counts (10 min each)
DATE:
NAME:
TIME:
LOCATION C
HOUR 1
HOUR 2
PEDESTRIANS
Total
CYCLISTS
Total Wheelchair
Stroller
HOUR 3
CYCLISTS
Total Stroller
HOUR 1
Total Stroller
HOUR 2 Total
CYCLISTS
Total Stroller
Total Total Wheelchair
HOUR 3
Stroller
HOUR 4
PEDESTRIANS
Total
CYCLISTS
Total
PROCEDURE:
3C
Total
Wheelchair
PEDESTRIANS
Wheelchair
Stroller
HOUR 4 Total
Wheelchair
Total Wheelchair
PEDESTRIANS
Wheelchair
Total
Stroller
Total Total Wheelchair
Stroller
Count pedestrians and cyclists moving across the indicated line for 10 minutes each
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Mark Jaywalkers with a line on the map
If there are obstructions, adjust the location of your line as necessary to maintain a clear sightline from end to end.
Civic Center PSPL 2017
22
Background + Context
Survey Methods People Spending Time Body posture, activity, age, gender of people spending time Stationary Activity and Age and Gender Mapping
DATE:
NAME:
TIME:
RE CR EA OT TIO CA N MP IN G) E /C G UL FO TU R CO R TR AL MM AN ER SIT CE CIV (“I” IC IN WO FO RM RK AC AL CO ) MP AN IE HA D BY RD PE DR T(S UG IN ) S TO XIC AT ED CA /A MP GG IN RE G OU SS PA IVE T/ NH SL AN EE DL PIN IN G G NC
MA
IN
RF OR
WA IT
G KIN
LA Y/
(N
/P
G
PE
RIN
E
G/D
CIS
EE
G
ER
SL
EX
LY IN
EA TIN
G
PIN
UB LIC SE AT RIV IN G AT E /C AF E PR OV IS ED - IM
-P
-P
G
G TIN
TIN SIT
SIT
SIT
G DIN
TIN
D D OL
AGE
ST AN
D
OL
RS EA
+Y
9Y
EA
65
D
OL
OL
S
RS
RS
YE
AR
-1
EA 4Y
14
0-
5-
LE
GENDER
15
(Y/N MA FE
OR
P? LE
ON
A
RS
1
MA
IN
PE
GR OU
GR
OU
)
P
3A
ACTIVITIES
POSTURE
OTHER ACTIVITIES
NOTES
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 TOTALS: Walk through the area indicated in red above to capture a PROCEDURE: snapshot of the stationary activities and age / gender of the people present in the public space.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Mark exact locations of people on the map using a number for each, starting with 1
For each person, quickly ‘X’ the box that fits best in each category (age, gender, posture, activities)
If you reach 30, continue on to a new sheet and begin where you left off, starting with 1 again
Civic Center PSPL 2017
23
Background + Context
Standing
Lying
Sitting - Improvised
Sitting - Public
Survey Methods People Spending Time Measuring how the space invites different body postures
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
24
Eating / Drinking
Background + Context
Exercise / Play / Recreation
Cultural / Performance Including music, dance, weddings, celebration
Survey Methods People Spending Time Measuring how the space invites different activities
Waiting for Transit
Commerce
Civic Work Including police, maintenance, and stewards
Accompanied by Pets
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Political / Religious Activity
Smoking
25
Sleeping
Background + Context
Measuring how the space invites activities like sleeping, drug use, and encampments
Sleeping can be positive, but it can also be a manifestation of larger societal issues.
26
Aggressive
Panhandling
Shouting, confrontation, or other aggressive behavior
Asking for money or donations
Encamped
Hard Drugs / Intoxicated
Accompanied by numerous personal belongings
Actively using drugs, or clearly incapacitated by them
Working with SF Planning, Gehl created activity categories to capture less socially acceptable and illicit behaviors that are part of the area’s public life profile. These activities were measured as a way of creating a common understanding of where, when, and how often these activities take place in the space. Activity categories were standardized for ease of comparison, but do not capture all nuanced behavior observed in the spaces.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
26
Background + Context
Survey Methods Intercept Survey Asking questions about sentiment, habits of use, demographics, and other elements not captured with observation. The Intercept Survey was taken by 419 people, from a total of 966 people who were approached.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
27
Background + Context
Survey Methods Public Space Analysis To understand the relationship between public life and public space we performed the following analysis: • 12 Urban Quality Criteria analysis • Facade Quality Analysis • Land use Analysis • Neighborhood Amenity Mapping • Public Space Amenity Mapping • Test walks
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
28
Key Findings for Public Space Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
29
1
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center is a powerful symbol of San Francisco
Civic Center PSPL 2017
30
Key Findings
Striking architecture makes Civic Center a successful San Francisco Icon Civic Center, like the Ferry Building, Twin Peaks, Lombard Street, Golden Gate Bridge, and other destinations, are central associations with the image of San Francisco.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
31
Key Findings
all ity H nC ge
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
e de la Répu c a l P bli qu e is ar
uspladsen, Co h d pe Rå nh a
nt a y
k, NYC r a P
,P
Civic Center is among the great squares and civic spaces of the world, including: the Campo de Sienna in Italy, Trafalger Square in London, Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia, Place de la République and Place des Voges in Paris, Copenhagen’s City Hall Plaza, Bryant Park in New York, and the Zócalo in Mexico City. Our Civic Center’s iconic buildings deserve an iconic public realm.
Br
Among the iconic Civic Centers and major squares of the world
lo, Mexico City a c Zó
lgar Square, L a f a on Tr do n
32
Key Findings
With a public life profile centered around the seasons of life Civic Center hosts all rhythms of civic, public, and private life: weddings, war memorial, world-class arts, daily civic and neighborhood business, moments of civic togetherness and civic unrest. People move to San Francisco to celebrate the dignity and diversity of human life. It is the place where the passions of our city are manifested in public space.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
33
Key Findings
2
Gehl — Making Cities for People
There’s no Center in Civic Center
Civic Center PSPL 2017
34
Key Findings
Convenience or Liquor Store
FO OD
Bar
ERVING RETAIL S D HOO R BO H G I NE
Restaurant or Café
Book Store
Grocery Store Cultural Arts Facility
Sidewalk /Outdoor Dining
Movie Theater
Community or Recreation Center
Community or Artist Workshops
Shared Workplaces
Hair Care
Public Library
Museum
Live Music Venue
Bank
Laundry or Dry Cleaner
Health Club
Playground <12 yrs Social Services Center
Clothing Store Pharmacy
Government Office that serves Public On-Site
Sports Field / Active Rec.
Child Care
Hardware Store
Other Retail
ES LITI ACI EF UR LT CU
&
BE
Coffee
Bakery
AR T
Food Store with Produce
&
Ephemeral events and programming add life intermittently, but are the everyday activities of a neighborhood district supported by permanent amenities?
Farmers’ Market
GE A R VE
S
Civic Center has many elements of a complete neighborhood...
GROCERY
Family Entertainment Venue Medical Clinic
Adult or Senior Care
Religious Facility Educational Facility Post Office
Police or Fire Station
S E I T ILI C A YF T I UN CIVIC & COMM Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
35
Key Findings
...But they are clustered on the periphery
ST. WORTH
. ELM ST E. GATE AV
LEAVEN
GOLDEN
ST. JONES
. TURK ST
D ST.
REDWOO
. ISTER ST
MCALL
D ST.
REDWOO
. ST
H . ST
K AR
. HYDE ST
M
FRANK
ST.
LARKIN
. POLK ST
ST. LIN ST.
FULTON
S AVE. VAN NES
ST.
. ASH ST
GOUGH
Civic Center has most of the amenities of a complete neighborhood - but they are clustered on the periphery.
ET
7T
ST. FULTON
GROVE
N
SO
. ST
EN
V
E ST
ST.
ON
. ST
SI IS
M
H
8T . ST
A
N
IN
. ST
M
HAYES
A
ST.
OM AT
. ST
N
IVY ST.
Neighborhood Amenities
E
SI ES
J
. ST
. ST
Grocery
H 9T
Many of the opening hours of these amenities cater strictly to office workers, not neighborhood patrons or visitors.
Arts & Culture Facilities
Civic & Community Facilities
D
AR OW
. ST
H
Neighborhood Serving Retail
Food & Beverage
Book Store
Social Services Center
Hair Care
Coffee
Grocery Store
Live Music Venue
Adult or Senior Care
Health Club
Bar
Movie Theater
Child Care
Bank
Bakery
Cultural Arts Facility
Educational Facility
Laundry or Dry Cleaner
Restaurant or Café
Museum
Religious Facility
Clothing Store
Government Office that serves Public On-Site
Pharmacy
Post Office
Hardware Store
Police or Fire Station
Other Retail
TH
10
Convenience or Liquor Store
. ST
Medical Clinic
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017 Sports
36
Key Findings
Large Institutions at the core of Civic Center.
. TURK ST
ONY’S
ST. ANTH
INGS
UC HAST
D ST. REDWOO
E COURT
SUPREM
R COURT
SUPERIO
BI KE S RY HU
OF CA
. ISTER ST
MCALL
UM
T MUSE ASIAN AR
L RARY
LARKIN
LIC LIB
SF PUB
EA TE TH
N
SO
. ST
N
VE
E ST
ST. GROVE
N
O SI IS
. ST
M B TC OM HI
H
L HO TE
. ST
BILL GR
8T
AHAM
GE TS GARA MING AR
PERFOR
RIUM AUDITO W
ST. GOUGH
. POLK ST
S AVE. VAN NES
HOUSE
FRANK
LIN ST.
ST. FULTON
ST.
CITY HAL
M ORPHEU R THEATE
. HYDE ST
. ASH ST
AC T
A
M
E THEATR HERBST
OPERA
. ST
. ST
T
E RK
H
Civic Center is dominated by institutional uses
ST.
7T
FULTON
R
GARAGE
D ST. REDWOO
NK
BA VACANT
BE R
E. GATE AV
LEAVEN
GOLDEN
CHURCH
CK LE
. ELM ST
ST. JONES
ST. WORTH
SCHOOL
A
N
IN
. ST
M
Y MPHON
SF SY
A
ST.
OM AT
LB Y
HAYES
N
DO
IVY ST.
Land Use H
BL DG
R THEATE
9T
TE R
. ST
NOURSE
TW
SF JAZZ
E
SI ES
. ST
Parks / Open Space
. ST
Retail / Entertainment Mixed Use
H
T 10
EM
A
J N
D
AR W HO
Cultural / Institutional / Education
IT
OUND PLAYGR
. ST
. ST
Mixed Residential Residential Medical Production / Distribution / Repair Management / Information / Professional Services Visitor
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Vacant
37
Key Findings
. TURK ST
ONY’S
ST. ANTH
INGS
UC HAST
D ST.
E COURT
REDWOO
SUPREM
R COURT
SUPERIO
. ISTER ST
BI KE S RY
UM
. HYDE ST
ST. LARKIN GROVE
RARY
LIC LIB
SF PUB
EA TE TH AC T
M ORPHEU R THEATE
N
SO
. ST
EN
V
E ST
ST.
ON
. ST
SI IS
M TC OM HI L
. ST
HO TE
H
8T
BILL GR
B
M
DITORIU
AHAM AU
GE TS GARA MING AR
PERFOR
W
ST.
. POLK ST
S AVE. VAN NES
HOUSE
FRANK
LIN ST.
ST.
GOUGH
. ST
L
CITY HAL
OPERA
. ST
M
E
THEATR
. ASH ST
FULTON
ET
K AR
H
HERBST
ST.
R
GARAGE
T MUSE ASIAN AR
FULTON
A
N
IN
. ST
M
ONY
PH SF SYM
HAYES
A
ST.
OM AT
LB Y
The pedestrian experience in Civic Center is defined by long, inactive façades with few openings and very little transparency. Vibrant and active façades are only experienced at the periphery.
HU
OF CA
MCALL
D ST. REDWOO
NK
BA VACANT
BE R
E. GATE AV
LEAVEN
GOLDEN
CHURCH
CK LE
. ELM ST
ST. JONES
ST. WORTH
SCHOOL
7T
Monofunction buildings create a dull core
Facade Quality
N
DO
IVY ST.
. ST
D
AR OW
. ST
H
R
H
BL DG
THEATE
9T
TE R
. ST
NOURSE
TW
IT
OUND PLAYGR
SF JAZZ
E
. ST
N
H
T 10
EM
A
I SS JE
. ST
Vibrant
• Small units with many doors • High transparency • No vacant or passive units • Lots of character • Good articulation, materials and details Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Active
• Relatively small units • Some transparency • Few passive units • Some articulation and detail
Dull
• Large units with few doors • Low transparency • Some Passive Units • Few or no details
Inactive
• Large units with few doors • Very little or no transparency • Uniform facades with no details or nothing to look at • Parking or vacant lot 38
Key Findings
Key Findings
Ground floors within the Civic Center District Facade Quality Ranking:
Vibrant
Active
Dull
Inactive
• Small units with many doors • High transparency • No vacant or passive units • Lots of character • Good articulation, materials and details
• Large units with few doors • Low transparency • Some Passive Units • Few or no details Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
• Relatively small units • Some transparency • Few passive units • Some articulation and detail
• Large units with few doors • Very little or no transparency • Uniform facades with no details or nothing to look at • Parking or vacant lot
39
3
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
The civic axis is broken
Civic Center PSPL 2017
40
Key Findings
Strong visual axis
Dull public realm
773
m) 1143 (4p
(8am)
(12pm) City Hall
2,616 Hyde St .
Ave.
Civic Center PSPL 2017
t. Larkin S
t Polk S
ss Van Ne
Weekday peak hour pedestrian and traffic counts Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
m) 1,152 (1p
m) 1,554 (5p
St re e
t
n/a
m) 1430 (8a
M ar ke t
The strong visual axis from Market Street to City Hall is disconnected by high-traffic streets and a dull public realm.
More people than cars cross Polk Street at Peak 41
Key Findings
4
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Fragmented stewardship and governance
Civic Center PSPL 2017
42
Key Findings
Disconnected public realm is mirrored in jurisdictional boundaries Many jurisdictional boundaries overlap in Civic Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s iconic public spaces. Split by two police districts, two business improvement districts, and other management and programming entities, the only entity that encompasses all of The Commons is the Downtown Streets Team.
ors bassad m A A I OCE
Judicial Council
D nter CB e C ic v i C
D loin CB Tender General Services Admin Asian Art Museum
orks ublic W P f o . t p De arks n and P io t a e r c Re City Hall
SHN SF Library
orthern SFPD N
nderloin SFPD Te
Bill Graham
Map of stewardship boundaries
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
wn Downto Streets Team
*All public streets under maintenance supervision of Public Works 43 unless noted otherwise
Key Findings
5
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Look but don’t touch: the space is unfriendly to the human scale
Civic Center PSPL 2017
44
Key Findings
12 Urban Quality Criteria in Civic Center
Missing the basics The 12 Urban Quality Criteria are a way to discuss a hierarchy of needs in a space. Without basic protection from cars, noise, rain, and wind, people will avoid spending time in a space. Without elements that make walking, standing, sitting, seeing, and conversing comfortable, a place won’t invite people to spend time there. Finally, a great place distinguishes itself by including elements that invite people to be active and make use of the positive aspects of microclimate and human scale. This assessment is a snapshot in time based on existing conditions. While improvements are on the way, some fundamental challenges exist. Scale
Poor Gehl — Making Cities for People
Protection Protection against traffic & crashes — feeling safe
Protection against crime & violence — feeling secure
Protection against unpleasant sensory experiences
Opportunities to walk/cycle
Opportunities to stop & stay
Opportunities to sit
Comfort
movable tables + chairs not present during study
Opportunities to see
Opportunities for play & exercise Playgrounds not open during study
Enjoyment Dimensioned at human scale
Fair
Opportunities to talk & listen
Opportunities to enjoy the positive aspects of climate
Aesthetic qualities + positive sensory experience
Good
Civic Center PSPL 2017
45
Key Findings
Civic Center We analyzed the Civic Center district as a whole according to the 12 Urban Quality Criteria. Qualities of seeing and looking are strong in Civic Center, as is aesthetic beauty. But it is falling short on fundamental qualities that make a space inviting for people.
Protection
Comfort
Enjoyment
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
46
Key Findings
Great view, but not safe to stand in the street
Protection Without basic protection from cars, noise, rain, and wind, people will avoid spending time in a space. Protection from these things is mandatory for a place to be used.
Protection against traffic & crashes — feeling safe
Protection against crime & violence — feeling secure
Fair
Poor
Some places are very protected
Protection against unpleasant sensory experiences
Poor
I’ve heard of a bulb-out but never a bulb-in...
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
47
Key Findings
Comfort Without elements that make walking, standing, sitting, seeing, and conversing comfortable, a place does not invite people to spend time there.
Opportunities to walk/cycle
Opportunities to stop & stay
Good
Poor
Opportunities to see
Opportunities to talk & listen
Good
Poor
Opportunities to sit
Poor
Opportunities for play & exercise
Fair Playgrounds were under construction during this study. Assessment based on interim design
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
48
Key Findings
Brr Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m happy to be in the sun! I just got married..but where do I go now?
Enjoyment A great place distinguishes itself from a good place by including elements that invite people to be active and make use of the positive aspects of microclimate and human scale.
Dimensioned at human scale
Opportunities to enjoy the positive aspects of climate
Aesthetic qualities + positive sensory experience
Poor
Poor
Good The Asian Art Museum is beautiful, but people are walled off from Fulton Street
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Beautiful architecture and art is one of the reasons people come to Civic Center
49
Key Findings
Little to delight the 5 senses Successful public spaces appeal to all the senses - not only the delight of beautiful architecture, but also touch, smell, and taste. At the time of this survey, there were few positive invitations to delight the senses in Civic Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 730,000 square feet of public open space. The Civic Center Commons Initiative is making things better. Movable tables and chairs, a permanent kiosk, and two new world-class playgrounds are a step in the right direction, but there is still much to do.
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
00 3 3 410 Drinking Fountains
Wayfinding
Chairs/benches movable tables + chairs not present during study
Restrooms
Play Areas
Public Art
50
Key Findings
Public Space 25 ft (7.6m)
Scale comparisons
Social Space 12 ft (3.6m)
Personal Space
Humans feel more safe when we can recognize other people and their emotions. The following scale comparisons demonstrate public space designs that function both as a civic gathering place as well as a place that honors the human scale.
4 ft (1.2m)
Intimate Space 1.5 ft (.45 m)
25 ft (7.6m)
65 ft (20m)
Public distance, Reckognizing faces & emotions
Recognising individuals & one-way communication
Social Distance
12 ft (3.6m)
Social distance, Contact & interacting
Recognizing emotions, potential for interaction
4 ft (1.2m)
Personal distance, Talking
1.5 ft (.45m)
Intimate distance, Strong impressions
Intimate Distance Personal Distance
Public Distance
Recognizing individuals and activities
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
51
Center Key Findings
Civic Center
Superior Court
Supreme Court of CA
Mcallister St.
Asian Art Museum Herbst Theatre
Fulton St.
City Hall
et rk
.
St
Sf Public Library
Hyde St.
Larkin St.
Opera House
Polk St.
Van Ness Ave.
Ma
Grove St.
Bill Graham Auditorium
SF Symphony
and Str No
rth
um
be
rla
nd
Av e
Bryant Park
Charing Cross Rd
ll
Whitehall
100ft
Coc
ksp u
rS
t
a Pall M
Traf Squaalgar re
Trafalgar Square
Civic Plaz Center ai than s bigger the w some o f o succ rld’s mo essfu s l larg t publ e ic sp aces
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
0
100
500 ft
52
Center Key Findings
Civic Center
Superior Court
Supreme Court of CA
Mcallister St.
Asian Art Museum Herbst Theatre
Fulton St.
City Hall
et rk
.
St
Sf Public Library
Hyde St.
Larkin St.
Polk St.
Opera House
Van Ness Ave.
Ma
Grove St.
Bill Graham Auditorium
SF Symphony
Bryant Park
100ft
Traf Squaalgar re
Trafalgar Square
Larg bord e featu e r scale red by h es uma elem sens e nts a ne of e nd a nclos thes u e sl re spac ightly sm make es su cces aller sful
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
0
100
500 ft
53
Key Findings
Civic Center Plaza
Vast open spaces that lack hierarchy and enclosure
Bryant Park
A primary open space framed by a strong axis and human-scale “rooms”
Green Water Decomposed Granite Monument Kiosk Seating / Furnishings Secondary Seating
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
54
Key Findings
Bryant Park
Big trees provide comfortable enclosure
This space struggled with issues like drug use that currently challenge Civic Center. Through design, programming, and a robust financing model, Bryant Park is now a beloved place. It succeeds in hosting a wide variety of activities, from movie nights to a cafe to a lending library to games, by subdividing the exterior of the park into humanscale rooms, framing a central lawn.
The edges are prime real estate
Furnishings make this lawn inviting
Branded furnishings
Monuments and trees make great company
This is a great place for a lunch break
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
55
Key Findings
6
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
The limited ability of the Beaux-Arts plan to support public life has been eroded over time
Civic Center PSPL 2017
56
Key Findings
The Beaux-Arts plan is focused around grand architecture, large public spaces, and clustering institutional uses. This squeezes out the life of the city by limiting active building edges, everyday retail and commerce, and informal cultural uses.
1942*
1960 plan*
1938 aerial*
*source: Civic Center Historic District Cultural Landscape Inventory, 2014
Today
Over time, even human-scale elements of this design such as planting, seating, water features and monuments have been removed, creating a public realm that only invites people to pass through, except during large, infrequent events.
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Open space + building footprints in Civic 57 Center highlights large public spaces
Key Findings
Public Space Key Findings 1 2
3 4
Civic Center is a powerful symbol of San Francisco
The civic axis is broken
Gehl — Making Cities for People
There’s no center in Civic Center
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Fragmented stewardship and governance
5
6
Look but don’t touch: the space is unfriendly to the human scale
The limited ability of the BeauxArts plan to support public life has been eroded over time
58
Key Findings for Public Life Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
59
Key Findings
1
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Lots of people are moving through Civic Center
Civic Center PSPL 2017
60
Key Findings
In 2016 there were: 15,120
268,800
14,148
269,261
44,240
1.7 million
weddings at City Hall
people on City Hall tours
people living in the district
people visiting Davies Symphony Hall
people visiting the Opera House
visiting the Main Library
850,000
people celebrating PRIDE (600-850k estimated over 2 days)
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
61
Key Findings
Special-event activation Dozens of permits are distributed each year that include large special events that program the entire space like SF Pride, and small events that activate Civic Center Plaza three times a week during a season like America Scores Soccer and food trucks.
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
62
Chapter Key Findings â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Where are we
There are some outstanding peaks
Wednesday, June 7 Pedestrians Hourly Average: 2,959
4,000 people per hour at evening rush hour!
5000
4500
4000
The Heart of the City Farmers Market in UN Plaza is one of the largest in the city.
3500
3000
Market Day
2500
2000
1500
1000
Typical Wednesday
500
0 8a
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
9a
10a
11a
12p
1p
2p
3p
4p
5p
6p
7p
63
Key Findings
The existing public life makes for some of the best peoplewatching in San Francisco.
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
64
Key Findings
Still, overall numbers of people moving are relatively low
Average Pedestrians Moving per Hour Average Pedestrians Moving per Hour 9000
9000
9500
5972
(avg/hr)
9500
8000
Fisherman’s Wharf Fisherman’s Wharf
8000
5972(avg/hr) Fisherman’s Fisherman’s Wharf Wharf Summer Weekend
7500
7500
7000
1621
(avg/hr)
Rittenhouse 1621 Sq (avg/hr) Rittenhouse Sq Philadelphia
7000
6500
6500
6000
Fall Weekend
6000
5500
Summer Weekend
1565
5500
(avg/hr)
Philadelphia Fall Weekend
1565
Swanston St Swanston St Melbourne (avg/hr)
5000
5000
Summer Weekend
4500
4500
4000
4000
713
(avg/hr)
3500
Weekend
3000
2500
619
(avg/hr)
2000
1500
1000
500
8a
9a 0
Swanston St
Rittenhouse Sq Rittenhouse Sq Patricia’s Green CC at Hyde/Hamilton Crowd - avg 734 Patricia’s Green CC at Hyde/Hamilton Crowd - avg 734 Market St CC Plaza at Larkin - avg 428 Market St CC Plaza at Larkin - avg 428 Civic Center Average Civic Center Average
1000
0
619
(avg/hr)
Swanston St
1500
Spring Weekend
Market St Market St
2000
500
Civic Center PSPL 2017
713
(avg/hr)
2500
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Summer Weekend
Patricia’s Green Patricia’s Green Spring
3500
3000
Average Pedestrians Moving per Hour on the Weekend
Melbourne
10a 8a
11a 12p 1p 9a 10a 11a
12p
2p
1p
3p
2p
4p
3p
5p
4p
6p
5p
7p
(@ Polk) Spring Weekend
285 285 Civic Center Civic Center (avg/hr)
(avg/hr)
Summer Weekend
6p
7p
(@ Polk) Spring Weekend
Summer Weekend
65
Chapter Key Findings — Where are we
A normal weekday is busier than a ‘busy’ weekend This pattern of public life tells us that people don’t choose to come here in their free time.
Average Pedestrian Counts 1000
Market
800
Weekday Busy Weekday
Wed, June 7 - Busy
600
Concert + Prom
Thurs, 25 - Quiet Weekday Slow May
Weekend
400
Weekend Busy Sat, June 10 - Busy Weekend Slow Sat, May 27 - Quiet
200
0 8a
9a
10a
11a
12p
1p
2p
3p
4p
5p
6p
7p
Average number of people walking on a street in the Civic Center District, by hour
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
66
Key Findings
2
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Peaks in activity do not generate ‘spillover’ impacts
Civic Center PSPL 2017
67
Key Findings
Total Daily Stationary Activities by Space
There are lots of people coming to the market - but they don’t explore or stay longer
Memorial Court City Hall Civic Center Plaza Fulton Street UN Plaza
In a connected public realm network we might expect to see all public spaces in the District following a similar pattern of activity. In Civic Center, events do not tend to spill over into adjacent spaces.
6/7/2017 Total Staying Activities by Space
Total Stationary Activities
Busy Weekday Busy Weekday 500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0
Farmers’ Market
Civic Center Plaza
8a
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
If there were spillover effects, Fulton Street, Memorial Court and Civic Center Plaza would see a corresponding increase in public life.
9a
10a
11a
12p
1p
Memorial Ct. City Hall
2p
3p
4p
5p
UN Plaza Fulton Street
6p
7p
68
Key Findings
Civic Center Plaza is mostly used as a OF space CA COURT SUPREME for exercise/recreation, eating, drinking
Activity clusters near City SUPERIOR COURTHall steps
MCALLISTER Civic WorkST.
Stationary activity mapping Date: 06-07-2017 Time: 12:00pm Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
VA
Few people spend time on Leavenworth Street
Civic Work
GARAGE
Eating/Drinking
ASIAN ART MUSEUM
Eating/Drinking
Commerce
Commerce
Sleeping
Sleeping
Cultural/Performance
Cultural/Performance Waiting for Transport
FULTON ST.
Waiting for Transport Political/Religious Advocacy Political/Religious Advocacy Passive Recreation Passive Recreation
Accompanied by Pets
Accompanied by Pets Smoking Smoking
SF PUBLIC LIBRARY
MA
R
E AT
T AC
E TH
Intoxicated & encamped ST. people around the SON EN UN Plaza fountain EV T S
Hard Drugs/Intoxicated
catedEncamped Hard ST. GROVEDrugs/Intoxi Encamped
. ST T E
RK
ORPHEUM THEATER
HYDE ST.
POLK ST.
Spaces with seating, shade, active ground floors and entrances, interesting buildings, and other humanscaled elements invite more people to spend time, such as near Asian Art Museum entrance.
UC HASTINGS
People cluster by active entrances & use any seating, especially seat walls
Exercise/Play/ Recreation
Exercise/Play/ Recreation
CITY HALL
Even during big, regular events like the Farmers Market, activity in one space does not flow to adjacent spaces.
LEAVENWORTH ST.
REDWOOD ST.
LARKIN ST.
Spaces do not function as one
Huge concentrations of people at UN Plaza (farmers market), but activity is interrupted by Hyde Street
One dot = One person
Slightly more encamped people person One dot = One
on the South side, many of these people were also eating/drinking BILL GRAHAM AUDITORIUM
Activities One dot = One person Civic Work Exercise/Play/ Recreation
B
OM ITC
One dot = One person Civic Work ing Eating/Drinky/ Exercise/Pla Recreation Commerce Sleeping
Eating/Drinking
WH EL T Cultural/Performance HO
Recreation Passive Cultural/Per Commerce formance Waiting for Transport
Passive Recreation
Hard Drugs/Intoxicated
catedEncamped HarddDrugs/Intoxi by Pets Accompanie
Accompanie for Transport Political/Rel Waiting igiousd by Pets Smoking Encamped Sleeping Advocacy Political/Religious Smoking Advocacy
69
SUPREME COURT OF CA
SUPERIOR COURT Key Findings
MCALLISTER ST.
Findings • Latent desire for diagonal movement across Civic Center Plaza • Given East/West configuration of the Plaza there is a surprising amount of North/ South movement and diagonal movement that is not supported by the current HALLdesign. CITY • Jaywalking across Larkin Street
LARKIN ST.
FULTON ST.
POLK ST.
Pedestrian movement tracing Date: 05-26-2017 Time: Morning commute - 6:00am - 10:00am Observed via timelapse camera mounted on City Hall dome with narrow view.
ASIAN ART MUSEUM
GARAGE
Pedestrian Tracing
Tracing view-shed SF PUBLIC
LIBRARY
GROVE ST. Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
70
Key Findings
A City Hall wedding is an SF tradition!
Happy wedding!
City Hall steps are doing double-duty.
Happy Graduation!
Each year there are over 15,000 weddings that take place at City Hall - That’s about 41 every day! ...But this generates little activity in Civic Center Plaza
Fighting traffic in my wedding gown isn’t exactly what I pictured
Not many photo-ops in Civic Center Plaza!
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
71
Key Findings
3
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Few people choose to spend time in Civic Center
Civic Center PSPL 2017
72
Key Findings
685
Overall stationary activity numbers are relatively low 700
685
700
650
650
600
600
550
550
490
500
490
500
450 450
400
685(avg/hr)
400
350
250
250
490(avg/hr) Trafalfar Sq
200
200
London Summer Weekday
150
150
100
100
49
50
Average People Staying per Hour on a 0Weekday Civic Center
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Summer Weekday
300
300
50
Fisherman’s Wharf
350
49(avg/hr) Civic Center
49
Summer Weekday
0 Trafalgar Sq Fisherman’s Wharf
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Civic Center
Trafalgar Sq Fisherman’s Wharf
73
67%
Chapter Key Findings â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Where are we
of people were standing
When there are few places to sit, people can only stand, or they do not come at all. Healthy pubic spaces allow approximately 50% of all people spending time to sit. If there were more generous invitations to spend time, would more people spend time in Civic Center?
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
22% of people were sitting on an improvised seat
74
LEAVENWORTH ST.
REDWOOD Key Findings
ST. UC HASTINGS
SUPREME COURT OF CA There is no seating here, so people sit or lie on the ground
SUPERIOR COURT
When seating is provided, people use it - the seatwalls are well-used around the Asian Art Museum
MCALLISTER ST.
V
CITY HALL
GARAGE
ASIAN ART MUSEUM
FULTON ST.
T. S T
R
SF PUBLIC LIBRARY
H
TT C A
M
ORPHEUM THEATER
HYDE ST.
POLK ST.
LARKIN ST.
E
K AR
N
BILL GRAHAM AUDITORIUM
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
O NS
. ST
VE
E ST
GROVE ST.
People sit on seats when they are provided
TE EA
Most people in Civic Center are standing. They sit wherever there is an invitation - like on the seatwalls around the Asian Art Museum and Library. Movable tables + chairs not present during study. Stationary activity mapping Date: 06-07-2017 Time: 12:00pm
MB
O TC
HI
LW
TE O H
Postures Standing Sitting - Improvised Sitting - Private/Cafe Sitting - Public Seating Lying One dot = One person
75
Key Findings
An ode to improvised seating Improvised seating is part of the delight of city life - finding your own space within a space is part of a human-scaled city. However, when informal seating is the only available seating option many people - especially older people - will not choose to come to this space. Civic Center has a lot of improvised sitting - how can we make more formal invitations to spend time?
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
76
20%
38% Key Findings
34%
Rarely (once per year or less)
5 min.
First time here
Bike
13% 48%
Walking through
Taxi / Rideshare
5%
36% of people are just passing through
8%
11% 14%
scribes your relationship to Civic Center
What brings you to the space today? 25%
What Brings you to this space today? Just passing through (skip to #5)
Neighbor/Resident
Sightseeing
Neighbor/Resident, Employee
Employee (of nearby institution/business) Attendee (cultural event or institution) Tourist
Cultural Event/Performance
7%
Neighbor/Resident, Attendee
Shopping/Market
3% 3%
36%
5%
Spending time by myself Recreation/Sports/Exercise
6%
Walking my pet
Student (of nearby school) Other
8%
Spending time with my family 8% 8%
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Meeting up with friends
*Intercept Survey
11%
Political Event/Protest Multiple
If just passing through, are you headed anywhere in particular?
77
Key Findings
Few people choose to stay Civic Center has relatively few people moving through the space compared to similar sites. Compounding this emptiness, only a small fraction of those moving through decided to stop and stay. “Stickiness” is a measure of how many people are spending time in a space, compared to who is moving through. A “sticky” space that encourages people to spend time often has a healthy public life profile.
Out of 44 people moving through Civic Center, only 1 stays. Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
78
S” STICKINESS” of Civic Center of Civic - Center Key Findings
SLOW WEEKEND SLOW DAY -WEEKEND SAT. 6/10/2017 DAY - SAT. 6/10/2017 1:30 1:30
WEEKDAY SLOW - 5/25/2017 WEEKDAY - 5/25/2017 1:58
‘Stickiness’ compared
WEEKLY AVG. 1:44
WEEKDAY BUSY - WED. WEEKDAY 6/7/17 - WED. 6/7/17 1:52
COMPARISON -COMPARISON DENVER 16TH- DENVER STREET WEEKEND 16TH STREET WEEKEND Civic Center Weekdays Civic Center Weekends 1:36 1:36 — WEEKDAY AVG. WEEKDAY AVG. WEEKLY AVG. WEEKEND — AVG. WEEKEND AVG. NYC TIMES SQUARE NYC TIME Out of every 55 passers Out of every 28 passers 1:5 by, 1:55 1:55 by, 1:44 1:28 1:28 1:5
1 stays
1 stays
COMPARISON -COMPARISON DENVER 16TH- DENVER STREET WEEKDAY 16TH STREET WEEKDAY 1:125 1:125
Civic Center holds the potential to be the vibrant heart of San Francisco it was envisioned to be. In order to support WEEKEND BUSY DAYWEEKEND - SAT. 5/27/2017 DAY - SAT. 5/27/2017 1:26 the type of public life found in other vibrant spaces, the area will need many more invitations for people to stay.
COMPARISON -COMPARISON NYC TIMES SQUARE - NYC TIMES SQUARE 1:5 1:5
WEEKEND SLOW DAYWEEKEND - SAT. 6/10/2017 DAY - SAT. 6/10/2017 1:30
WEEKLY AVG. 1:44
WEEKDAY AVG.WEEKDAY AVG. 1:55 1:55
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
In Times Square, NY On Swanston Street, Melbourne — NYC TIMES SQUARE — MELBOURNE WEEKEND AVG.WEEKEND AVG. NYC TIMES SQUARE MELBOURNE SWANSON ST. SWANSON ST. Out of every 5 passers by, Out of every 4 passers by, 1:28 1:28 1:5 1:5 1:4 1:4 1 stays 1 stays
79
Key Findings
Civic Center Civic+/Center 4 per 10k +/-~4 sf4per sf Civic Center per10k 10ksf
Civic Center Civic 1000 Center per 10k 1000 sfper 10k sf 10k Patricia’s Patricia’s Green +/Green 18 per +/10k 18 sfper Patricia’s Green ~ 18 per 10ksf
TrafalgarTrafalgar Square Trafalgar +/Square 39 per+/10k39sf 10k10ksf sf Square ~ per 39 per
Pier 39 Pier 88per 39per10ksf +/10k88sfper 10k sf Pier 39+/~ 88
On a non-event day, Civic Center feels empty, compared to places around the People per 10,000sf corner and around the world Scale comparison: two basketball courts 100’
sf
Patricia’s Patricia’s Green +/Green 18 per+/10k18sfper 10k sf
100’
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
80
Key Findings
Average Weekday
The design works well a few times per year
Patricia’s Green +/- 18 per 10k sf
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
~ 4 per 10ksf
Civic Center +/- 4 per 10k sf
Major Civic Event ~ 1,000 per 10ksf *
Civic Center 1000 per 10k sf +/- 18 per 10k Patricia’s Green
100’
100’
Trafalgar Square +/- 39 per 10k sf
* estimate of density
Pier 39 +/- 88 per 10k sf
81
Key Findings
The design works well a few times per year
Watching the Warriors in Civic Center
â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and when actively programmed
Soccer in Civic Center
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
82
Key Findings
4
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Each space in Civic Center has a unique public life heartbeat
Civic Center PSPL 2017
83
Key Findings
Each space has a unique public life heartbeat. Method for analysis: To analyze the profile of people spending time in each major space within the Civic Center District, we averaged public life volumes each hour from 8am to 8pm over four survey days, and then normalized them by square foot to arrive at activities per square foot for each hour of the survey.
Memorial Court
City Hall Fulton Street
UN Plaza
Civic Center Plaza Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
84
Key Findings
10a
11a
12p
1p
2p
3p
4p
5p
6p
7p
City Hall Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
Van Ness between McAllister and Grove is a major transportation corridor, 10a 11a and 12pmost1ppublic 2plife happening 3p 4p here 5p 6p throughout the day is people waiting City Hall Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked for transit. The sidewalk in front of the Opera and Herbst Theater is periodically bustling with concert and special-event goers, but they 10a 11a 12p 1p 2p 3p 4p 5p 6p donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t host much activity when the are Memorial vic Center Plaza Average stages Hourly Activities Per dark. 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked Court is little-used - neither for memorial activities nor for other activities.
7p
7p
Seating 12p 1p 2p 3p 4p 5p 6p Provided: 10 seats at bus stops Civic Center Plaza Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked Demand: 21 people waiting at bus stops at 4pm weekday peak, on average 10a
10a
11a
11a
12p
1p
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
2p
3p
4p
Civic Center PSPL 2017
5p
6p
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
Fulton Street Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
10 9 8 7 8a 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
7p
2.5 people 9a
10a
11a
12p
1p
2p
3p
Spending time per feet7p 5p 10,000 square 6p
4p
Un Plaza Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
8a
9a
10a
11a
12p
1p
2p
3p
4p
5p
6p
7p
Un Plaza Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked Memorial Court Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
10 5 9 8 4 7 8a 6 3 5 4 2 3 2 1 1 0
9a
5 4 3 2 1
10a
11a
12p
Hourly avg. 2.5 people per 10,000SF
1p
2p
3p
4p
5p
6p
7p
Transit Rules!
Hourly avg. 32 people in Memorial Ct.
*a small percentage of people registered multiple activities
8a
7p
le per 10,000 Square Feet
West Side of Van Ness + Memorial Court
Memorial Court Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
People per 10,000 Square Feet People per 10,000 Square Feet Peopleper per10,000 10,000Square SquareFeet Feet People People per 10,000 Square Feet
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
9a
10a
Eating/Drinking
11a
12p
1p
2p
3p
4p
5p
City Hall Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
Exercise/Play/Recreation
Cultural/Performance
Waiting for Transport
Commerce
Civic Work
Accompanied by Pets
Political/Religious Advocacy
Other Activities (drug use, encampments, sleeping, aggressive behavior)
Passive - Sitting or Standing
6p
7p
32 people spending time per hour, on average
Hourly avg. 2.6 people per 10,000SF Hourly avg. 28 people in City Hall Area
Eating/Drinking
Exercise/Play/Recreation
Cultural/Performance
Waiting for Transport
Commerce
Civic Work
85
Key Findings
West Side of Van Ness + Memorial Court Key Takeaways • Area used most regularly by bus riders • Seating insufficient for peak demand • Memorial Court is little-used Design Challenge • Enhance transit stops by providing transit- and city-provided seating incorporated into a high-quality public realm - leverage Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit • Test new uses in Memorial Court by adding seating and programming.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
86
City Hall
Memorial Court Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
The steps of2pCity Hall are4pone of5pthe most 0a 11a 12p 1p 3p 6p successful places in the Civic Center City Hall Average Hourly Activities Perbut 10,000this Square Feet, Stacked mostly dissipates district, energy at Polk Street. At the same time, despite being designed to be primarily decorative, the grassy edges of City Hall, 10a 11a 12p 1p 2p 3p 5p 6p ringed with seat-walls, are 4p very well used by dog-walkers in the morning, City Hall Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked commuters at all hours, for lunch in the sunny areas in the afternoon, as spillover areas for people doing business, and activities around 0a 11a 12p 1p 2p for civic 3p 4p 5p 6p the east-facing entrance of City Hall. c Center Plaza Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked The north edge is used occasionally by children making use of the playground, and on the south edge for smokers and people loading and unloading. 10a
11a
12p
1p
2p
3p
4p
5p
7p
7p
7p
6p
7p
People per 10,000 Square Feet People per 10,000 Square Feet People per per 10,000 10,000 Square Square Feet Feet People per 10,000 Square People People per 10,000 Square FeetFeet
Key Findings
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 5 3 10 2 9 8 1 4 0 7 6 3 8a 5 4 2 10 3 2 9 1 8 1 7 0
8a 6 5 4 3 10 5 2 9 8 1 4 0 7 6 8a 3 5 4 2 3 2 1 1 0 8a
Civic Center Plaza Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
11a
12p
1p
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
2p
3p
4p
Civic Center PSPL 2017
2.6 people 9a
10a
11a
12p
Hourly avg. 2.5 people per 10,000SF
1p
2p
3p
Spending time per 5p 10,0006psquare feet 7p
4p
Un in Plaza Average Hourly avg. 32 people Memorial Ct.Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
9a
10a
11a
12p
1p
2p
3p
4p
5p
5p
6p
7p
5 4
6p
7p
Un Plaza Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked City Hall Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
Prom
9aavg. 2.6 10a 11a Hourly people per 10,000SF
12p
Mid-day 1p Weddings 2p
Transit Rules! 5p 4p
3p
6p
7p
Hourly avg. 28 people in City Hall Area
*a small percentage of people registered multiple activities
9a
10a
11a
12p
1p
2p
3p
4p
5p
Civic Center Plaza Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
le per 10,000 Square Feet
0a
Fulton Street Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked Memorial Court Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
Eating/Drinking
Exercise/Play/Recreation
Cultural/Performance
Waiting for Transport
Commerce
Civic Work
Accompanied by Pets
Political/Religious Advocacy
Other Activities (drug use, encampments, sleeping, aggressive behavior)
Passive - Sitting or Standing
6p
7p
28 people spending time per hour, on average
3 Hourly avg. 2.3 people per 10,000SF
2
Hourly avg. 53 people in Civic Center Plaza Eating/Drinking Exercise/Play/Recreation
Waiting for Transport
1
Commerce
Cultural/Performance Civic Work
87
Key Findings
City Hall Key Takeaways • The steps of City Hall and the grassy area that surrounds them are surprisingly well-used. Despite not being designed for active use, they are one the most powerful generators of life and activity in the District. Design Challenge • Connect the activity on City Hall steps to Civic Center Plaza, which could benefit from life and activity. • Cultivate similar energy on the west steps.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
88
Key Findings
Civic Center Plaza
Memorial Court Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
Although it is designed as a public space, 1p 2p 3p 4p 5p 6p Civic Center Plaza has no more public lifeActivities density per square foot than the area City Hall Average Hourly Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked around City Hall (designed to be decorative), or around Memorial Court and Van Ness (used mostly as a through-way). This may be12pbecause at 2p key times in4pthe morning 10a 11a 1p 3p 5p 6p and evening activities like sleeping and City Hall Average encampments Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stackedthe public life dominate profile and discourage others from using it.
10a
11a
12p
The lack of spatial definition of Civic Center makes 1pits public life Because 10a 11a 12p 2p 3p fragile. 4p 5p 6pit is so wide open, one person or group can vic Center Plaza Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked overwhelm and break the integrity of the entire space, compromising the experiences of everyone else.
7p
7p
7p
However, the area 12p 1pwhen 2p 3p is activated 4p 5p with6p special events, seating, food trucks, and Civic Center Plaza Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked other activities, people walking through the space are drawn in to spend time and stay. 10a
10a
11a
7p
People per 10,000 Square Feet People per 10,000 Square Feet Peopleper per10,000 10,000Square SquareFeet Feet People per 10,000 Square People p People People per 10,000 Square Feet Feet
10 9 1 8 7 0 8a 6 5 4 5 3 10 2 9 1 4 8
0 7 3 8a 6 5 2 4 10 3 9 1 2 8 1 7 0 0 8a 6 8a 5 4 3 10 5 2 9 1 4 8 0 7 8a 6 3 5 4 2 3 2 1 1 0
9a
10a
11a
12p
1p
2p
12p
1p
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
2p
3p
4p
Civic Center PSPL 2017
5p
6p
7p
4p
5p
6p
7p
Fulton Street Average Hourly Activities 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked City Hall Average Hourly Activities PerPer 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
2.3 people 9aavg. 2.6 people 10a per 10,000SF 11a Hourly
12p
1p
2p
3p
Spending time per 5p10,000 square 6p feet 7p
4p
Hourly avg. 28 people City Hall AreaHourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked Unin Plaza Average
9a 9a
10a 10a
11a 11a
12p 12p
1p 1p
2p 2p
3p 3p
4p 4p
5p 5p
6p 6p
7p 7p
Un Plaza Average Hourly Activities PerPer 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked Civic Center Plaza Average Hourly Activities 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
Evening sleeping 9a
10a
11a
12p
Hourly avg. 2.3 people per 10,000SF
1p 2p Mixed Activities
3p
4p
5p
6p
7p
Hourly avg. 53 people in Civic Center Plaza
*a small percentage of people registered multiple activities
8a
9a
10a
11a
12p
1p
2p
3p
4p
5p
Eating/Drinking
Exercise/Play/Recreation
Cultural/Performance
Waiting for Transport
Commerce
Civic Work
Accompanied by Pets
Political/Religious Advocacy
Other Activities (drug use, encampments, sleeping, aggressive behavior)
Passive - Sitting or Standing
11a
3p
6p
7p
53 people spending time per hour, on average
*Note: playgrounds under construction during survey. For data from playgrounds, see following slides. Eating/Drinking
Exercise/Play/Recreation
Cultural/Performance
Waiting for Transport
Commerce
Civic Work
89
Key Findings
Civic Center Plaza Key Takeaways • Density of people spending time in Civic Center Plaza is very low. • Active edges and spatial definition are important life generators and without them, Civic Center Plaza suffers. Design Challenge • G enerate the type of life and activity that occurs at the edges of the buildings that surround Civic Center Plaza by introducing new “edges”, human scale design features, and daily programming and activities.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
90
Standing
Children Playing
Physical Activity
Civic Work Key Findings Cultural Activity
Commercial Activity Waiting for Transport
Civic Center Playgrounds Civic Center Feb 11th (with playgrounds) Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
A spot-survey of Civic Center while the playgrounds were open was conducted in February 2017 prior to construction.
People per 10,000 Square Feet
Negative Activities (drug use, etc.)
10
10
9
9
8
8
7
7
6
6
5
Weekday 13 February Civic Center Plaza
People per 10,000 Square Feet
San-Francisco Age & Gender Winter 2017
Saturday, February 11 Civic Center Feb 13th (with playgrounds) Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked Stationary Activity
4 10 3
10a
12p
2p
Gehl — Making Cities for People
15
17
19
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Moveable Seating
16.1%
Secondary Seating
Lying Down
45.7%
Standing
9.1%
Physical Activity
8 1
1.9%
Civic Work
0.0%
Commercial Activity
0.9%
Cultural Activity
0.0%
Waiting for Transport
7.3%
Negative Activities (drug use, etc.)
7 0 8a
10a
12p
Clear throughout the day. Monday, February 13 Min 8°C Stationary Activity Max 15°C Wind 0m/s
5 4 3 2
8a
10a
12p
70.1%
3
2
1
0
Bench Seating
0.6%
18.2% Secondary Seating MoveableCivic Seating Center Feb 11th (with playgrounds) Average Hourly Activiti
9.6%
Lying Down
37.2%
Standing
Children Playing
10.2%
Physical Activity
4.4%
1
29.9%
4
3.3%
10 8.3%
0
5
2p
9 0.8%
W
8 4p
M 2p
7 65+
52.0%
30-64
32.8%
20-29
3.3%
15-19
0.7%
05-14
6.1%
00-04
5.0%
Civic Work
0.0%
0.8%
Cafe Seating
Commercial Activity
Clear throughout theforday. Waiting Transport Cultural Activity 1.7% Min 8°C Negative Activities (drug use, etc.) Max 15°C Wind 0m/s
Gender
6 People per 10,000 Square Feet
13
Cafe Seating
Children Playing
5.2%
11
0.0%
0.0%
4.4%
Age
7 AM 9
Bench Seating
13.2%
San-Francisco Age & Gender Winter 2017 Weekday 13 February Civic Center Plaza
1.3%
9 2
6
People per 10,000 Square Feet
Lying Down
5 4
W Average Hourly Activiti Civic Center Feb 11th29.9% (with playgrounds)
70.1%
M
10 3 9 2 8 1 7 0
5.2%
65+
52.0%
30-64
32.8%
20-29
3.3%
15-19
91
Key Findings
Civic Center Playgrounds Key Takeaways • The survey did not reveal a higher volume of public life in the plaza on average when the playgrounds were installed. • Although play was a component of the public life when the playgrounds were installed, most of the people spending time in the plaza were adult men and activities like drug use comprised as much as 7% of all activities. Design Challenge • Ensure proper stewardship to allow safe access for children, the intended users of the playground.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
92
Key Findings
Fulton Street + Library + Asian Art Museum Plazas
Memorial Court Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
a
11a
12p
1p
2p
3p
4p
5p
6p
7p
City Hall Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
Fulton Street and the plazas in front of the Library and Asian Art Museum had some of the highest density of 10a 11a 12p 1p 2p per3psquare 4p foot in 5p 6p staying activities the Civic Center District, especially ial Court Average Hourly Activities Per Per 10,000 Square Feet,Feet, Stacked City Hall Average Hourly Activities 10,000 Square Stacked when accounting for the fact that they were either activated by modest programming, or not formally activated at all.1pThe presence of the only5pthree 6p a 11a 12p 2p 3p 4p ple per 10,000SF public benches as well as humanple in Memorial Ct. Center Plaza Average Hourly Activitiesplazas, Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked and shade scaled seatwalls, reinforce the fact that people spend time in areas that honor the human scale.
12p 1p 2p 3p 4p 5p Seating Provided: 10 seats at bus stops City Hall Average Hourly Activities PerPer 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked vic Center Plaza Average Hourly Activities 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked (not including seatwalls) Demand: 21 people waiting at bus stops at 10am weekday peak
10a
11a
aple per 10,000SF 11a
12p
1p
2p
3p
4p
5p
7p
7p
6p
7p
People per 10,000 Square Feet People per 10,000 Square Feet People People per 10,000 Square Feet Peopleper per10,000 10,000Square SquareFeet Feet
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 10 2 9 1 8 0 7 8a 6
Fulton Street Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
3.7 people 9a
10a
5 4 3 2 1 0
11a
12p
1p
2p
3p
Spending time per
4p
5p10,000 square 6p feet 7p
Un Plaza Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
10 9 8 7 6 8a 5 4 3 10 5 2 9 1 8 4 0 7 8a 6 3
9a
10a
11a
12p
1p
2p
3p
4p
5p
6p
7p
Un Plaza Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked Fulton Street Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
Hourly avg. 3.7 people per 10,000SF Hourly avg. 45 people in Fulton St.
9a
10a
5 4 2 3 2 1 1 0
11a
12p
1p 2p Book Fair
3p
4p
5p
6p
7p
Tour Buses
*a small percentage of people registered multiple activities
8a
9a
10a
11a
12p
1p
2p
3p
4p
5p
6p
7p
Un Plaza Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
Eating/Drinking
Exercise/Play/Recreation
Cultural/Performance
Waiting for Transport
Commerce
Civic Work
Accompanied by Pets
Political/Religious Advocacy
Other Activities (drug use, encampments, sleeping, aggressive behavior)
Eating/Drinking
Exercise/Play/Recreation
Cultural/Performance
Waiting for Transport
Commerce
Civic Work
Passive - Sitting or Standing
6p
45 people spending time per hour, on average
7p
ple in City Hall Area
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
93
Key Findings
Fulton Street + Library + Asian Art Museum Plazas Key Takeaways • High density of people spending time in this area, especially considering little to no programming during survey. • Sunny, protected, active edges are well-used. Design Challenge • Enhance active edges and experiment with bringing life and activity to the center of Fulton Street. • Consider removing vehicular traffic and parking • Provide access to historic monument • Re-orient main entries of Asian Art Museum and Library towards enhanced public space
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
94
Fulton Street Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
ial Court Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
UN Plaza (Market Day)
morial Court Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
UN Plaza is crowded and active 1p 2p 3p 4p 5p on market days, especially during lunch timeSquare when commerce Hall Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Feet, Stacked dominates all activities. 11a
12p
6p
7p
Yet compared to all the people buying and selling, a relatively low amount of 11a 12ppeople 1p are eating 2p 3p drinking. 4p 5p 6p or Perhaps this is because seating is limited, and ity Hall Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked the moveable seats provided during lunchtime are often placed in an exposed place with no shade on a sunny day. 11a
12p
1p
2p
3p
4p
5p
6p
7p
7p
The number of people engaged in er Plaza Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked “other activities” is high, but their presence is overwhelmed by the life of the market. The rest of the Civic Center Commons could learn from this of “diluting” impact5pof illegal 11a 12pinstance 1p 2p 3p the 4p 6p activities with robust programming.
7p
enter Plaza Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
People per 10,000 Square Feet People per 10,000 Square Feet People per 10,000 Square Feet People per 10,000 Square Feet
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 10 1 9 0 8 8a 7
Key Findings
6 10 5 4 10 9 9 3 2 8 8 7 1 0 6 7 8a 5 4 6 3 2 10 5 1 9 0 4 8 8a 7 6 3 5 4 2 3 2 1 1 0 0
Fulton Street Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
Spending time per 10,000 square feet
9a
10a
11a
Civic Center PSPL 2017
3p
4p
5p
6p
7p
12p
1p
2p
3p
4p
5p
6p
7p
Un Plaza Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
Hourly avg. 7.8 people per 10,000SF Hourly avg. 110 people in UN Plaza
9a
10a
11a
12p
1p
2p
Lunch! 3p
4p
5p
6p
7p
Un Plaza Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
Farmer’s Market! 9a
10a
11a
12p
1p
2p
3p
4p
5p
6p
7p
*a small percentage of people registered multiple activities
8a 8a
9a 9a
10a 10a
11a 11a
12p 12p
1p 1p
2p 2p
3p 3p
4p 4p
5p 5p
Eating/Drinking
Exercise/Play/Recreation
Cultural/Performance
Waiting for Transport
Commerce
Civic Work
Accompanied by Pets
Political/Religious Advocacy
Other Activities (drug use, encampments, sleeping, aggressive behavior)
Passive - Sitting or Standing for People 11aGehl — Making 12p Cities1p 2p
7.8 people
6p 6p
7p 7p
110 people spending time per hour, on average 95
Key Findings
UN Plaza (Market Day) Key Takeaways • UN plaza bursts with activity on Market days - but limited seating with no shade limits the number of people staying to eat lunch. • Number of activities like drug use and encampments remains high, yet it does not dominate because of the number of other people in the space. Design Challenge • Fulfill latent demand for seating by adding a variety of highquality, flexible invitations to sit and stay during market days.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
96
Fulton Street Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
Memorial Court Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked Key Findings
UN Plaza (Non-Market Day)
Memorial Court Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
Even on non-market days more people 0a 11a 12p 2p 3p in UN 4p Plaza 5p 6p choose1pto spend time than in the other public spaces of City Hall Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked Civic Center Commons. Yet, it is still much less active than comparable public spaces outside the District. Activities and are 12p 1plike eating 2p 3p drinking 4p 5p as high on non-market days as on City Hall Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked market days, suggesting that there is even more demand for seating at lunch on market days and demand 11a 12p 1p amenities 2p 3p 4p 5p for these on a daily basis.
10a
0a
11a
7p
6p
6p
7p
7p
c Center Plaza Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
10a 12p
1p11a
The number of people engaged in “other activities” is equal to market days, but because of lower total volumes of people in the space, there are times throughout the day3pwhen activities like6pdrug use and6p 1p 4p 2p12p 4p2p 5p3p 7p5p encampments dominate the space.
7p
Civic Center Plaza Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
0a
People per 10,000 Square Feet People per 10,000 Square Feet People per 10,000 Square Feet People per 10,000 Square Feet
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 10 1 9 0 8 8a 7
Spending time per 10,000 square feet
9a
6 10 5 10 49 9 3 8 28 7 1 6 07 8a 5 4 6 3 2 105 1 9 0 84 8a 7 63 5 42 3 21 1 00
10a
11a
2p
Civic Center 2017 3p PSPL 4p
5p
6p
7p
12p
1p
2p
3p
4p
5p
6p
7p
Un Plaza Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
9a
10a
11a
12p
1p
2p
3p
4p
5p
6p
7p
Hourly avg. 6 people per 10,000SF Un Plaza Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked Hourly avg. 84 people in UN Plaza
Other Activities more visible ~50% of all people in the space 9a
10a
11a
12p
1p 2p Lunch!
3p
4p
5p
6p
7p
*a small percentage of people registered multiple activities
8a 8a
9a 9a
10a 10a
11a 11a
12p 12p
1p 1p
2p 2p
3p 3p
4p 4p
5p 5p
Eating/Drinking
Exercise/Play/Recreation
Cultural/Performance
Waiting for Transport
Commerce
Civic Work
Accompanied by Pets
Political/Religious Advocacy
Other Activities (drug use, encampments, sleeping, aggressive behavior)
Passive - Sitting or Standing Gehl — Making12p Cities for People 11a 1p
6 people
Fulton Street Average Hourly Activities Per 10,000 Square Feet, Stacked
6p 6p
7p 7p
97
Key Findings
UN Plaza (Non-Market Day) Key Takeaways • UN plaza remains active on non-market days. • The amount of sleeping, encampments, and drug use remains high on non-market days and is more visible because of the lower volume of people on these days. Design Challenge • Build on existing demand for market activities by expanding the daily availability of amenities in the space and providing opportunities to sit and stay. • Build on success of market by adding daily commercial activity. • Create space for culture and commerce on blank facade at back of Orpheum Theater.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
98
Key Findings
5
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Activities like sleeping and encampments can be overwhelming, and even when they are not, have a ripple effect Civic Center PSPL 2017
99
Key Findings
Day
Cultural/Performance
Activities change depending on time of day
6%
7%
Civic Work
4%
NGS
-
15%
NDI
NGS
NAR Y FI
9%
Accompanied by Pets Political/Religious Activity 3% Smoking
Passive: Just sittingOverall or Stationary Evening Activities standing
5%
Sleeping
2%
Encamped
2%
NEW
STA TIO
Eating/Drinking
5%
Commerce
NDI
Exercise/play/recreation
5%
45%
NEW
STA TIO
NAR Y FI
The number of people sleeping, encamped, doing drugs, intoxicated in public, panhandling or exhibiting aggressive behavior doubled at night.
Waiting for Transit
At right: number of people doing each activity during daytime counts, all spaces, all days
Cultural/Performance 1% Exercise/Play/Recreation Eating/Drinking
4%
Night
4%
Hard Drugs/ Intoxicated Panhandling/ Aggressive (0%)
Waiting for Transport Commerce 6% Civic Work 5% Accompanied by Pets 2% 3% Smoking
3%
Passive: Just sitting or standing
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
53%
19%
5% 2% 12%
Sleeping Hard Drugs/ Intoxicated Encamped
100
eet Stationary Evening Activities Key Findings
Fulton Street, nighttime
Activities change depending on location 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0
Smoking
Accompanied by Pets Commerce 1% Waiting for Transport 3% Exercise/Play/Recreation 2%
The number of people sleeping, encamped, doing drugs, intoxicated in public, panhandling or exhibiting aggressive behavior on Fulton Street between 7-10pm was 50%
Eating/Drinking
8PM
9PM
Passive: Just sitting or standing
15%
1% Aggressive
50% 34%
Encamped
10PM
Exercise/Play/Recreation
Cultural/Performance
Sleeping
nsport
Commerce
Civic Work
Hard Drugs/Intoxicated
y Pets
Political/Religious Advocacy
Passive Recreation
Encamped
Panhandling
Undesired Activities
Aggressive
Civic Center PSPL 2017
6%
6%
g
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Sleeping
2%
30% 7PM
0% Hard Drugs/Intoxicated/Panhandling
101
Public life impact of sleeping, encampments, and drug use
Our city’s central common space should feel welcoming to people from all walks of life - from tourists to patrons of the arts, to people experiencing homelessness and those living in SROs. Some activities measured here, such as public sleeping, are not necessarily negative unto themselves. Others, like public drug use, are illegal and clearly have a negative impact on other potential users of the space. The undefined, wide-open nature of Civic Center’s public spaces, combined with the associations that many people have with homelessness and drug use, means that some activities like encampments, have unintended consequences of deterring other people from spending time in the space. How might Civic Center productively discourage illegal activities while also providing more reasons to be there? Design Challenge • Create more invitations for more people to come more often and stay longer • Support and enhance district stewardship activities like the Downtown Streets Team and Hunters Point Family • Pursue thoughtful design to create more activity that discourages illegal uses.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
102
Key Findings
6
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Different users of Civic Center experience the same spaces differently Civic Center PSPL 2017
103
Key Findings
tionship to Civic Center
Perceptions Neighbor/Resident of the Civic Center Neighbor/Resident, Public Employee Realm by its Neighbor/Resident, users Attendee
What best describes your relationship to Civic Center?
What best describes your relationship to Civic Center
Different users of Civic Center Attendee (cultural event or institution) experience the same spaces differently and want different things from the space.
Neighbor/Resident, Employee Neighbor/Resident, Employee Neighbor/Resident, AttendeeAttendee Neighbor/Resident,
35%
22%
Employee (of nearby institution/business)
Employee (of nearby institution/business) Attendee (cultural event or institution) Tourist
Attendee (cultural event or institution) Student (of nearby school)
Tourist
9%
In some cases, we found Student (of nearby school) statistically significant differences in the way people perceived the Other public spaces of Civic Center. The following pages highlight findings by user group from the intercept survey which had 419 responses.
Neighbor/Resident
8% 2%
Employee (of nearby institution/business)
Neighbor/Resident
19%
2% 3%
Other
Tourist Student (of nearby school) Other
What best describes your relationship to Civic Center
8% 2%
Neighbor
35%
22%
9%
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Tourist
Civic Center PSPL 2017
tionship to Civic Center
Woman
Employee
19%
2% 3%
Special EventGoer 104
Key Findings
Civic Center as experienced by an
Employee
beautiful but a magnet for drug D irnot ty so use; I am much neutral but conflicted
Employees rated Civic Center most negatively compared to other groups. They tended to want more ways to spend time in Civic Center during the day, especially a place to sit at lunch. They focused on positive architectural qualities of the space and often associated homelessness with “dirty,” “drugs,” and “unsafe.”
A. What things would you like to do in the public spaces of Civic Center that you can’t do now?
Mixed, Microcosm, Public
less drugs
community, lost souls, platform for change
eat lunch Drink wine, sit
less homeless
cleaner
Activity
g in te n or u m mm co
From survey: Describe Civic Center in three words
Activity
Morning
Civic Center PSPL 2017
hang out
B. What would make you feel more safe in this place?
Open
Design Challenge • Meet employee needs for lunch and after-work food and drink
Gehl — Making Cities for People
sit in peace
Conceptual existing public life profile
lunch break!
hap hou py r! go in’ ho m e
Afternoon
Evening Conceptual future public life profile
105
Key Findings
Civic Center as experienced by a
Neighbor
A. What things would you like to do in the public spaces of Civic Center that you can’t do now?
play basketball
B. What would make you feel more safe in this place?
art show
Neighbors, including unhoused people, tended to want more recreational activities. They mentioned the words clean and ‘homeless’ but not as much in association with ‘drugs’ or ‘unsafe’. Neighbors of Civic Center tended to rate the space more positively. 1/4 recognized a person they did not plan to meet.
bring activities
lots more reasons to visit!
Activity
Morning
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
drugs off the street
more people
Activity
Design Challenge • Serve neighborhood needs for open space and active recreation without limiting large civic gatherings
picnic
Conceptual existing public life profile
Afternoon
Evening Conceptual future public life profile
106
Key Findings
Civic Center as experienced by a
Tourist
By day, resplendent; by night, unnerving; architecturally stimulating.
Tourists felt the most positively about Civic Center compared to other user groups. They had more positive than negative comments. Special events attract 58% tourists.*
Bathroom More culture
A. What things would you like to do in the public spaces of Civic Center that you can’t do now?
Design Challenge • More photo-ops and other activities (including food and drink) that invites tourists to stay longer at different times of the day.
tour bus
Activity
great photo-ops!
Activity Civic Center PSPL 2017
Sit with wind break
see more green, have food carts
stop for lunch
tour bus enjoy sunset and Dome lights
Morning
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Festival
Conceptual existing public life profile
Afternoon
Evening Conceptual future public life profile * Study: Economic Impact of SF’s Outdoor Events 107
Overall and Anomalies Key Findings
Civic Center as experienced by a
Woman Women have a more negative perception of Civic Center compared to men. Although 50% of the people moving through Civic Center are women, few of them stop and stay. This may be because women tend to be sensitive to issues of safety in public and are deterred from spending time in Civic Center’s public spaces because of the ratio of undesirable activities to desirable activities. Design Challenge • Women are invited to spend time in Civic Center’s public spaces.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Men and women moving and OVERALL AGE AND GENDER staying in the district MOVING
STA
How do you feel about the Civic Center Area?GENDER AGE AND
49%
Overall and Anomalies
Moving
51%
Negative Perception
30%
63.8%
18%
OVERALL AGE AND GENDER
U
20%
Neutral Perception
MOVING
STAYING
25%
M
CITY HALL MOVING
STA 36.2%
49%
51%
Positive Perception
62%
63.8%
45%
Staying
50%
50%
Women
CITY HALL
70.8%
12
Men
Data from Intercept Survey MOVING
STAYING
50%
Women
U
Men
M
29.2%
108
Key Findings
creating opportunities for eating and drinking in the District. • Enhance the experience of walking to and from transit and parking garages by improving pedestrian lighting and adding daily programming and activities.
Civic Center as experienced by a:
Special- event-goer Cultural institutions in Civic Center draw thousands of patrons every year. But, these events have a modest impact on Civic Center’s public life. Theatre-goers dash to their cars or transportation to go home after shows. On average, there are 41 weddings every day at Civic Center, yet time for a ceremony and photographs in the Rotunda is limited. The steps are crowded as couples take photos there, but few extend their experience to Civic Center Plaza.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Activity
rush back to parking garage from show nice stroll after a show
dinner before the show Morning Activity
Design Challenge • Special-event-goers bring their celebration to the public spaces of Civic Center and use these spaces to gather before and after events. • Create invitations for this group to come more often and stay longer by
rush from parking garage to show
Conceptual existing public life profile
Afternoon
Evening Conceptual future public life profile
109
Key Findings
Civic Center as experienced by a
Potential User Most of the potential users of Civic Center are already in the district - they just need targeted invitations spend more time. Low income people making between $10-25k were under-represented in the intercept survey, as were Asian-Americans and students.
Potential for expanded public life at Civic Center
Activity
How can the design and programming of Civic Center extend genuine invitations to these user groups?
Activity
Morning
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Conceptual existing public life profile
Afternoon
Evening Conceptual future public life profile
110
Key Findings
Public Life Key Findings 1 2
3 4
Lots of people are moving through Civic Center
Few people choose to spend time in Civic Center
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Peaks in activity do not generate ‘spillover’ impactsr
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Each space in Civic Center has a unique public life heartbeate
5
6
Activities like sleeping and encampments can be overwhelming in number, and even when they are not, have a ripple effect
Different users of Civic Center experience the same spaces differently
111
Framework for public life
Framework for Public Life
This section of the document proposes a series of principles and strategies from amplifying and improving public life in the Civic Center District.
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
122
Civic Center Framework for Public Life Key Findings Public Space 1 Civic Center is a powerful symbol of San Francisco 2 There’s no center in Civic Center 3 The civic axis is broken 4 Fragmented stewardship 5 Look but don’t touch: the space is unfriendly to the human scale and governance 6 The limited ability of the Beaux Arts plan to support public life has been eroded over time
1. Civic Center exemplifies San Francisco’s ideals of tolerance, generosity, and diversity
2. Civic Center is generous at the human scale, where everyday public life of the city unfolds
3. Civic Center is a destination for celebration and culture that inspires pride in the unique identity of San Francisco
4. Civic Center’s public realm encourages democratic participation by providing space for large civic gatherings as well as smaller acts of civic life
5. The Civic Center District has a strong identity, expressed and anchored by a connected public realm
Big Moves
Public Life 1 Lots of people are moving through Civic Center 2 Peaks in activity do not generate ‘spillover’ impacts 3 Few people choosing to spend time in Civic Center 4 Each space in Civic Center has a unique public life heartbeat 5 Activities like sleeping and encampments can be overwhelming in number , and even when they are not, have a ripple effect 6 Different users of Civic Center experience the same spaces differently
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Vision for Public Life + Public Space
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Connect to Neighborhoods
Enhance Ceremonial Axis
Focal Points
Active Entrances
Edges + Enclosure
Coordinated Stewardship
Genuine Invitations to Stay
123
A Vision for Public Life + Public Space
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
124
Framework for Public Life
Civic Center is for everybody. It exemplifies San Francisco’s ideals of tolerance, generosity, and diversity • Civic Center welcomes diverse people - People move to San Francisco from around the world to experience diversity and tolerance, and Civic Center celebrates these values at their best. • Civic Center fosters coexistence between diverse people and cultures face-to-face - Programming that appeals to different cultures and income groups is held at the same time, in the same space. • Genuine invitations are present for all users of the space, regardless of background or income. The design makes “just being here” a dignified experience. A genuine invitation can be as simple as a dignified bench or a coffee shop, or as complex as a march or wedding. • The public life of Civic Center is resilient - The space limits the invitations for illegal activity like drug use and drug dealing, and limits the negative impacts of activities like personal encampments without banishing them.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
© Eric Parker Union Square, New York
125
Framework for Public Life
Civic Center is generous at the human scale and supports everyday public life • Basic amenities - Seating, shade, human-scale lighting, bathrooms, drinking fountains, and wayfinding are sufficient for this large public space. • The urban quality of the space provides safety, comfort, and enjoyment and supports everyday moments of rest - Civic Center invites people to have lunch in the fresh air, meet with fellow students, relax in the evening, and spend time with family and friends on the weekend. Great public spaces are also a good place to spend an hour - a place to be between A + B. • Play and recreation are supported in Civic Center - Playgrounds and facilities for recreation complement the neighborhood public realm network.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Trafalgar Square, England
126
Framework for Public Life
Civic Center is a destination for celebration and culture that inspires pride in the unique identity of San Francisco • Cultural events in institutions spill out into the public spaces adjacent to them performances, book sales, and other events take place in the public realm of Civic Center, and audiences before and after formal shows and events linger and spend time in the public realm - especially after dark. • Civic Center’s public realm hosts its own cultural events. Spaces host formal and informal performances. • Permanent and ephemeral public art reflects the unique identity of San Francisco
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
127
Framework for Public Life
Civic Center’s public realm encourages democratic participation by providing space for large civic gatherings as well as smaller acts of civic life • Major moments to debate and reaffirm our civic values continue to have a home in San Francisco’s Civic Center. • Daily civic acts central to our democracy take place in Civic Center’s public spaces as appropriate, certain civic activities such as graduations, volunteering, and elements of the voting process should be invited to occur in the public realm around Civic Center.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
@LydiaPantazes 128
Framework for Public Life — Where are we
The Civic Center district has a strong identity, expressed and anchored by a connected public realm. • Physically connected - It is easy to walk and cycle through the district and connect to adjacent neighborhoods with clear gateways. • Programmatically and culturally unified Coordinated programming, public art, operating hours, wayfinding, and branding. • Stewardship and enforcement - Law enforcement, ambassadors, cleaning, and other stewardship operates as one or in close coordination with one another.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Strøget, Copenhagen 129
Framework for Public Life
7 Big Moves The big moves are a set of proposals for both tactical and strategic spatial interventions, as well as recommendations for programming and stewardship
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
130
Framework for Public Life
Western Addition
1
Boeddeker Park
orth Leavenw
er St. Mcallist
Market Street BART & Muni
h 7t
Buchanan St. Mall
St
Hayes Valley
St
Gateways
Muni hub
St
Patricia’s Green
SoMa
h 8t
t. Hayes S
Hayes Valley Playground
M ar ke tS t.
. Grove St
th 10
Bicy Net cle wor k
Turk & Hyde Mini Park
Hyde St.
Design Tools:
Jefferson Square Park
t. Larkin S
These walkable streets should be safe, consistent, convenient, and delightful with world-class sidewalks, intersections and gateways.
Tenderloin Polk St.
The pedestrian network moving to and through Civic Center should exemplify the best of the city and highlight the city’s commitment to people-first mobility.
Tenderloin Wellness Trail
Little Saigon
s Ave. Van Nes
Connect Civic Center to the neighborhoods that surround it
Ped ns ectio n n o C
Tenderloin Children’s Playground
Sergeant John Macaulay Park
McCoppin Park
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Mission
131
Framework for Public Life
Consistent and high quality pedestrian connections Civic Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feeder streets should be of high quality and notify people they are in the district through consistent furnishings and district branding.
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Oxford Circus, London
132
Framework for Public Life
The bicycle network moving to and through Civic Center should exemplify the best of the city Grove and Polk Streets have been identified as priorities for the city’s cyling plan. Highlight the city’s commitment to advancing people-powered, non-motorized transportation by making these showcase facilities that are consistent, connected, and convenient.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Seattle
133
Framework for Public Life
A special focus on gateway intersections approaching Civic Center’s key public spaces A gateway can be a welcome mat or a barrier to people entering into the Civic Center district. Emphasize these key hinges with high quality crossings, short crossing distances, short crossing times, and improved crosswalks that ease movement to and through the district. Create inviting gateways by incentivizing active street edges along key streets like Larkin Street.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Madrid
© Daderot Buenos Hayes Valley
© Allan Ferguson Castro Street
© MIG Placemaking Sacramento
134
Framework for Public Life
t. worth S
St.
Art Institute
rt Asian A Museum
St. allister McA
l Federa
g
Buildin
ll
Theatre
Improved at-grade crossing
Study potential future connection
ouse
Opera H
lic SF Pub Library
United Cafe Nations ege it C y Coll of SF m Orpheu Theater
Muni / B A
RT
SF ny Sympho
Performing Arts Walk
St ke t
New midblock crossing
Study potential future connection
ar
ham Bill Gra ium Auditor
.
. St
t. Grove S
M
Herbst
h 8t
Create a Civic Mall
UC s Hasting
r
t. SF Dep h lt a e H f o
Mid Cro block ssin gs
of CA
Relocate parking garage kiosk, reconfigure garage entry
Superio Court
t.
ade At-Gr gs sin Cros
e Court
Suprem
Hyde St.
Larkin
Polk St.
Ave.
Design Tools:
e. Gate Av
City Ha
nS Frankli
The grand Beaux-Arts axis is the defining feature of Civic Center - let the public realm mirror the architectural significance of this big move by creating a new enhanced civic and ceremonial axes from the steps of City Hall to Market Street.
Golden
s Van Nes
Enhance prominent civic + ceremonial axes with pedestrianpriority street crossings
Leaven
2
t. Hayes S
h 9t . St
ter
Thea Nourse
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
135
Framework for Public Life
Create a civic mall The Civic Center ceremonial axis is modeled after other major ceremonial axis and was once a bold connection from the City Hall Steps to Market street. Create a bold axis and corridor for major civic events that aligns the visual axis with strong pedestrian connection and mass gathering space.
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
National Mall during Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s innauguration
136
Framework for Public Life
Connect key public spaces along the main civic axis with at-grade crossings Connecting grand civic buildings to grand public spaces can have a dramatic positive impact on both. Street crossings along this axis should prioritize pedestrians with wide at-grade crossings and pedestrian-priority signal timing along the axis emanating east from City Hall. Before, Trafalger Square
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
After, Trafalger Square
137
Framework for Public Life
New mid-block crossings Respond to existing pedestrian desire lines and create new mid-block crossings.
Š Nacto NYC
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Mid-block crossing at SF City Hall
Caption 138
Framework for Public Life
Theatre
Hyde St.
St.
e Court
Suprem
New focal point
UC s Hasting
Civic + Ceremonial Axis Asian Art
of CA
r
Superio Court
Museum
l Federa
Art Institute
g
Buildin
ll
City Ha
Pioneer ent Monum
lic SF Pub Library
SF ny Sympho
New focal point
t.
ham Bill Gra ium Auditor
ar ke tS
City Hall dome, ept. SF D existing focal h of Healt point
Pioneer Monument, existing focal point . St
t. Grove S
m Orpheu Theater
M
ouse
Opera H
United Cafe Nations ege City Coll of SF
h 8t
n St. Frankli
t. Hayes S
h 9t . St
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Relocate parking garage kiosk, reconfigure garage entry Larkin
Herbst
Quiet Axis
Create a sense of enclosure and entry into the ‘quiet axis’ of Memorial Court through a soft threshold, like a grove of trees.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
e. Gate Av
St. allister McA
Enhance central Beaux-Arts City Hall / Market Street axis by placing a focal point at the east terminus in UN Plaza. Focal point should be a center of activity that relates to the commercial character of this space.
Enhance existing North/South connections on Fulton Street
Polk St.
Ave.
Focal points act as magnets in a space, and draw people to them. They enhance existing views, add interest and provide an important sense of orientation for users of the space. Focal points can be low to preserve views.
Establish a new focal point in Civic Center Plaza between the iconic architecture of Supreme Court and Bill Graham Auditorium. Introduce a new focal point monument, public art piece, pavilion, or other feature at the center of this new, reinforced axis.
Golden
s Van Nes
Enhance visual axes with new focal points
t. worth S Leaven
3
Nourse
Theater
139
Framework for Public Life
New focal points Spaces around the world that share Civic Center’s Beaux-Arts style have found a way to delight all five senses at the human scale - from mobile book libraries, climbable statues, to splashparks.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Trafalger Square
Place de la Republique, Paris
Poul Gernes, Denmark
Temple at Patricia’s Green © Hoodline
Crown Fountain, Chicago
Movement Cafe, London
TKTS Steps, New York
Historic focal points Civic Center Plaza 1942
Brooklyn
140
Framework for Public Life
4
Leaven t. worth S
Larkin
UC s Hasting
St.
Polk St.
Ave.
The quality of space in Civic Center is highly influenced by the quality of the building edges that surround it. Add new entrances where possible and activate edges and entrances to promote and support healthy public life.
e. Gate Av
Hyde St.
Golden
s Van Nes
Celebrate and re-orient active entrances
Experiment with non-commercial, outdoor active edge
Activate building entries from Fulton Street
A urt of C
e Co Suprem
r
Superio Court
rt Asian A m u e s u M
St. allister McA
l Federa
Art Institute
g
Buildin
ll
City Ha Herbst
Theatre
New entrance
lic SF Pub Library
United Cafe Nations ege City Coll of SF m Orpheu Theater
Existing entrance New active edge
Add Ent New ran ces
t. Hayes S
. St ke t Redevelop existing corner parking lot with a hotel or other complementary use with an active ground floor
. St
Theater
Activate during the day with more frequent and evening use not always associated with shows
h 9t
Civic Center PSPL 2017
ar
SF ny m y S pho
Nourse
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
ham Bill Gra ium r o Audit
M
t. SF Dep h lt a e H of
Design Tools: lif y Amp es nc Entra
t. Grove S
. St
Publicly-accessible interior space
h 8t
n St. Frankli
Existing active edge
ouse
Opera H
141
Framework for Public Life
Amplify existing entrances Seating, seatwalls, planting, shade, transparency and human-scale elements at the entrance of a building make it a more active edge. Re-orient entries of the Asian Art Museum and Library towards Fulton Plaza.
SF Public Library during a book sale
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
PĂŠrez Art Museum, Miami
142
Framework for Public Life
Add new entrances UN Plaza and Van Ness can be activated by adding new entrances to existing Beaux-Arts facades. In Europe for example, it is common to find a beer hall or restaurant in the cellar of the town hall, even in areas with traditional architecture.
Munich City Hall Includes a restaurant and beer garden in the basement
Consider a liner building on the blank corner facade of SHN Orpheum Theatre
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
UN Plaza at Hyde St.
143
Framework for Public Life
Existing playgrounds
Hyde St.
e Court
Suprem
St.
Pavilions complete street enclosure
More flexible seating to complement existing shade + enclosure Art
UC s Hasting
of CA
Institute
r
Superio Court
rt Asian A Museum
St. allister McA
l Federa
g
Buildin
ll
City Ha
Spaces with active edges promote robust public life. By introducing human-scale rooms and complete street corridors, more people will feel invited to stay.
Herbst
Theatre
United Cafe Nations ege City Coll of SF
lic SF Pub y r a r ib L
m Orpheu Theater
Late hours kiosk or cart + more integrated BART entries
Occupiable green area ouse
Opera H
h 8t
More seating in Memorial Court t. Hayes S
Pavilions to complete street enclosure
t.
Retail liner / entrances
Increase seating for staying and waiting for transit
Green edge zones for people watching h 9t
Active perimeter entrance and edge zone
M
SF ny m y S pho
ke tS
t. t. SF Dep h of Healt
ham Bill Gra ium Auditor
ar
t. Grove S
. St
nS Frankli
1. I ntroduce new built edges along McAllister Street and Grove Street 2. Introduce a new landscape edge to define human-scale rooms on the edge of City Hall 3. Design for socially resilient space
Transit plazas
e. Gate Av Larkin
Ave.
Spatial organization creates a framework for life to unfold, and should be designed to support the desired public life profile of Civic Center.
Golden
Polk St.
s Van Nes
Edges and enclosure
Major building entrances in Fulton corridor
t. worth S Leaven
5
. St
Landscape edge zone
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
ter
Thea Nourse
144
Framework for Public Life
A new, built edge to complete the street wall Pavilion-type structures could provide spatial definition to Civic Center Plaza and create new nodes of activity and opportunities for programming and activation during the day and at night. Consider introducing new built, edges along McAllister Street and Grove Street to complete the street wall with an active edge.
Civic Center Plaza Birite Kiosk, forthcoming
Mission Flores, SF
From Civic Center Plaza, looking Southeast
23
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Torvehallerne, Copenhagen
Bryant Park Kiosks create enclosure, NYC Š Colin Miller
145
Framework for Public Life
A new landscape edge to define human-scale rooms on the edge of Civic Center Plaza Landscape rooms create human-scale spaces for people to spend time. These edges also minimize the negative effects of San Francisco’s windy and foggy microclimate
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Lurie Garden, Chicago
Bryant Park, NYC
Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston
Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphpia
146
Framework for Public Life
A socially resilient space through design As we discovered in our Public Life study, activities like drug use and encampments have ripple effects in a space - deterring people from spending time there. When designed with care at the humanscale, spaces that act like outdoor ‘rooms’ can create conditions for disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged people to coexist side-by-side. The social effect of landscape ‘rooms’ are highlighted in the example at right by a public life study from spaces in Copenhagen, DK.
Boligudvalget 2010-11 BOU alm. del Bilag 49 Offentligt
byfornyelse
Byen som dagligstue? byfornyelse med plads tIl socIalt udsatte
intro Indledning
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Side 1
“The City as a Living Room? City renewal with space for vulnerable people.”
Civic Center PSPL 2017
In this space, people drinking and using drugs (red) spend time within a circular barrier or to the east of it, while others (blue) spend time outside of the barrier, and in the western edge of the space, effectively sharing the space.
Two cafes with different clientèles, one low-income and the other moderate income, exist side by side.
147
Framework for Public Life
A socially resilient space through program Many successful civic and neighborhood spaces contain a wide spectrum of public life. One user group should never dominate use of a large public space like Civic Center - whether they are dog walkers, wedding guests, or people experiencing homelessness. Through unique, active invitations to be in the space, people who are engaged in less socially acceptable behaviors can continue to be there, alongside people there for other reasons.
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Times Square
148
Framework for Public Life
Hyde St.
S Larkin t.
Art Institute
A urt of C
e Co Suprem
r rt Asian A Museum
ing
l Build Federa
ll
City Ha Herbst
Theatre
lic SF Pub y r a r ib L
ouse Opera H
United Cafe Nations ege City Coll of SF m Orpheu Theater
h 8t
ke t
St
.
ham Bill Gra ium Auditor
M
ar
t. Grove S
. St
n St. Frankli
SF ny Sympho
t. Hayes S
h 9t
Car e
UC s Hasting
Superio Court
t. SF Dep h of Healt
Programs for Social Mixing
e. Gate Av
St. allister McA
Design Tools: ed dinat Coor rdship a Stew
Polk St.
Ave.
Civic Center should have a coordinated strategy for district stewardship. This could take the form of an interdepartmental working group, a “friends of” group, and/or a single maintenance or management entity. Stewardship, district identity, ambassador programs, programming, and other positive elements of stewardship should be coordinated with enforcement, police, cleaning, and other necessary activities.
Golden
s Van Nes
Coordinated Stewardship and Enforcement
t. worth S Leaven
6
. St
Nourse
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Theater
149
Framework for Public Life
District-wide coordinated stewardship and safety Stewardship and safety organizations should coordinate within the Civic Center district to to work towards common goals, including creating a safe environment for all that limits the impact of illegal activities.
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Civic Center, San Francisco
150
Framework for Public Life
Care City agencies and non profit organizations devoted to care and services for at-risk people in Civic Center should be empowered to boost efforts in the district. Programs that are coordinated with stewardship and maintenance agencies over common goals will have larger, synergistic impacts. The goal should not be to banish vulnerable people from Civic Center, but to provide services and dignified care. Civic Center, San Francisco
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Lava Mae, San Francisco Š Adrian Pintor
151
Framework for Public Life
Programs for social mixing Civic Center should offer a wide variety of activities that appeal to a diversity of people so everyone feels welcome. Public events should be planned such that different types of people interact in Civic Center. For example, a paid event should occur alongside a free one. A pop-up care village should occur alongside free games and music. Civic Center should use its unique large scale to meet neighborhood public space needs that are unmet by the area public space network. The spaces should meet the needs of more vulnerable neighborhood residents such as seniors, teens, and kids.
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
First Fridays Block Party, Oakland Š Oaklandfirstfridays.org
152
Framework for Public Life
Encourage small acts of democracy Look for ways to encourage smaller acts of democracy such as voting, immigration ceremonies, graduations, or specific-issue demonstrations.
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
San Francisco voter
Immigration ceremony
Simon Bolivar Statue
San Francisco highschool graduation
153
Framework for Public Life
Reduce barriers to small-scale user-generated programming Small-scale events, artwork and commercial activity can provide a more consistent and neighborhoodscaled activation of the public spaces of Civic Center. The current permitting process favors large events, as reflected in the use patterns of the Commons. To encourage daily and neighborhood-scale use, permitting for small-scale programming should be streamlined, providing fewer barriers to entry than large events.
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
154
Civic Gathering
Framework for Public Life
t. worth S
. Hyde St
St.
M ar ke tS t. h 8t . St
t. Hayes S
Nighttime Theater + Entertainment
ar
Green Edge Zones
M
Activate City Hall West Steps
ke t
St .
Transit Plazas
t.
Playgrounds
Market Street Neighborhood Commerce
h 9t . St
Civic Center PSPL 2017
. Polk St
Ave.
nS Frankli
t. Grove S
Pre- and PostEvent Gathering, small-scale acoustics + Quiet Reflection/ Remembrance Gehl — Making Cities for People
e. Gate Av
St. allister McA
Civic Center’s public spaces should provide genuine invitations to stay. Unique program areas can create moments that are just as special, symbolic, and iconic as the district’s architecture. Spaces can be brought to life by giving them distinct and visible programmatic identity. Program areas and description at right. Design precedents for each major space in the pages to follow.
Neighborhood Green
Larkin
s Van Nes
Genuine invitations to stay
Golden
Daytime office + lunch
Leaven
7
Civic + Celebration
• Grand civic axis is clear of obstructions or barriers to large mass events or rallies
155
Framework for Public Life
Invitations for Public Life in
UN Plaza More flexible seating with shade and enclosure during markets Commerce in UN plaza every day of the week, not only Farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Market Integrate BART into the public realm while improving a sense of safety by positioning a late-hours vendor like a flower kiosk or a newspaper stand near the BART entrance.
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
156
Framework for Public Life
UN Plaza
Encourage 24/7 commerce Civic Center needs a diverse ecology of commerce its major public spaces. Consider encouraging a flower stand or news kiosk to open directly adjacent to the BART portal in UN Plaza to create passive eyes on the street and make BART riders and people departing from Civic Center entertainment feel more safe. Consider coinciding a night market on evenings when the theaters are active. In addition to brick-and-mortar activation, UN Plaza should have regular ephemeral events such as the Farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Market as well as smaller ephemeral programs like street vending. These active uses, when commercial, should not overshadow the civic nature of the space.
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
A flower market open provides eyes on the street
A night market greets people leaving theaters at night
Kiosk space for rotating vendors in Pernstejn Square, Czech Republic
157
Framework for Public Life
UN Plaza
Celebrate transit stops 25% of users of this space use public transportation to get here. Dignify their journey by making transit connections part of the public realm experience. Emphasize BART plazas as part of the public realm; Celebrate transit stops in front of Asian Art Museum + Library, and along McAllister and Van Ness.
Montreal
Paris
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Alicante Tram Stop, Spain
158
Framework for Public Life
Invitations for Public Life in
Fulton Street Neighborhood Green Leverage active edges to support a pedestrianized center of Fulton Street. Remove vehicular traffic and parking. Asian Art Museum and Library locate a major entrance or exit onto Fulton Street. Create neighbourhood green space. Transit Plazas Increase seating and incorporate adjacent cultural identity into bus stops to serve transit riders and activate public spaces
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
159
Framework for Public Life
Fulton Street
A green plaza Fulton Street can be a new neighborhood green space, framed by the Library and Asian Art Museum, with events and activities at the edges which spill out into the space.
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Bryant Park
160
Framework for Public Life
Invitations for Public Life in
Civic Center Plaza Civic + Celebration New focal points along the way encourage walking and staying activities. Gardens, restaurants, or cafes for wedding and graduation ceremonies. Cater to small to medium-sized groups ~20 people who come here to celebrate. Enhance parking entry and combine with other attractions such as daytime lunch location. Connected public realm allows for moments of protest to occur in all spaces at once. Spaces should delight the 5 senses. Daytime office + lunch Leverage sunny time of the day in the NE corner and host lunch and cafe activities. Theater + Entertainment Pre- and post-event invitations to spend time. Major new retail and commercial spaces to encourage activity. Nightlife spine - inviting to people walking home from shows Activate Brooks Hall with cultural or commercial anchor. Green Edge Zones. Smaller edge spaces for people-watching. Playgrounds Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
161
Framework for Public Life
Civic Center Plaza
Celebrate Views Design of the Civic Center Plaza should reinforce the Beaux Arts symmetry and celebrate its grand architecture. Views should be emphasized along secondary axes (e.g. between Bill Graham Civic Auditorium and the Courthouse, and between the Library and the Asian Art Museum), as well as the primary grand axis from City Hall to Market Street.
View along grand axis
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
View of the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium - blocked by trees
162
Framework for Public Life
Civic Center Plaza
Pavilions + Kiosks Consider a series of small or large pavilions or kiosks to bring life and activity to Civic Center Plaza.
Nørreport Station, Copenhagen
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Chicago Apple Store, Foster Partners
Small pavilions
Lincoln Center, Diller Scofidio + Renfro
163
Framework for Public Life
Civic Center Plaza
Install basic public space amenities Install basic public space amenities such as trash cans, water fountains, bathrooms and human-scale lighting to create a safe and pleasant walk at all times of the day. Wayfinding that highlights common routes and the civic center axis and encourages people to explore the district. Basic public amenities should be visible and accessible from key entry points to Civic Center.
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
164
Framework for Public Life
Civic Center Plaza
Dramatically increase opportunities to sit, lean and stay Civic Center should have many more invitations to sit, lean, and stay. Healthy public spaces invite approximately 50% of all people spending time in a space to sit. In the past, too modest increases in the amount and variety of opportunities to sit and stay in Civic Center have communicated to the public that seating is a rare commodity, and private “encampments” in the few seats available have compounded on this perception. With proper stewardship to guard against the “privatization” of public seating, Civic Center can provide opportunities for everyone to stay.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
165
Key Findings
Civic Center Plaza
Take advantage of microclimate In San Franciscoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s notoriously foggy, windy, and chilly climate, Civic Center has corners that are in sun for most of the day year-round, especially the northeast corner of Civic Center Plaza. However, anyone walking out of City Hall in the afternoon will be in shadow. Creating comfortable places to sit down relax that take advantage of the positive microclimate in Civic Center Plaza will enhance enjoyment of this space.
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Summer Solstice 6.21 3pm
The dramatic steps of City Hall are in shadow when many special events take place
166
Framework for Public Life
Civic Center Plaza
Delight the senses The visual delight in Civic Center’s Beaux Arts architecture should be matched by delight to the senses of touch, sound, smell, and taste. Water features, aromatic gardens, and other sensoriallyrich features offer intrigue and connect people to the landscape. Opportunities to connect to San Francisco’s history through the senses, like a Dahlia garden, should be explored.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Civic Center Commons
Cumberland Park, Nashville
Civic Center Farmer’s Market
Golden Gate Park Dhalia Garden, © SFGate
167
Framework for Public Life
Sergeant John Macaulay Park
Civic Center Plaza
Recreational uses in Civic Center District supports gaps in the neighborhood public realm network Civic Center sits at the center of several neighborhoods, each of which have their own network of public spaces. Civic Center Plaza should support but not duplicate the existing public realm network. Recreational uses should not overshadow the civic nature of the space. How can Civic Center pick up the slack where neighborhood open space networks are lacking to better serve people in these neighborhoods? We recommend a comprehensive assessment of existing recreational amenities.
Open Spaces within 15 minutes walk of Civic Center Plaza Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Tenderloin Children’s Playground
Boeddeker Park
Turk & Hyde Mini Park
Jefferson Square Park
5 min Walking
10 min Walking
Buchanan St. Mall
15 min Walking
Gene Friend Recreation Center
Hayes Valley Playground
Howard & Langton Mini Park
Victoria Manalo Draves Park
Patricia’s Green
Page & Laguna Mini Park McCoppin Park 168
Framework for Public Life
Invitations for Public Life in
City Hall West Pre- and Post-Event Gathering and Quiet Reflection + Remembrance in Memorial Court Develop stronger identity of Memorial Court by testing seating Experiment with small-scale performances City Hall West Steps Activate west-side City Hall steps in combination with study with a mid-block crossing on Van Ness. Take advantage of afternoon sun. Transit Plazas Increase seating and incorporate adjacent cultural identity into bus stops to serve transit riders and activate public spaces
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
169
Framework for Public Life
City Hall West
Programming in the “Front Porch” of cultural institutions Use the public spaces adjacent to cultural institutions to bring cultural programming into the public realm.
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Opera Ball
Opera Neighborhood Night
Sydney Opera
Opera Neighborhood Night
Civic Center Commons 170
Framework for Public Life
te Ave.
Lie in the sun
St.
Intermittent event activities
e Suprem
Hyde St.
Larkin
Ave.
Bringing life to these dead zones is a key priority for the public realm plan.
Polk St.
s Van Nes
Even on a market day, when UN Plaza is bustling with activity, the rest of the Civic Center Commons are pocked with ‘dead zones’ where there is little to no staying activity throughout the day.
Ga Golden
t. worth S Leaven
Existing zones of public life Play
f CA
Court o
UC s Hasting Art Institute
Hangout Sit in the sun
r Superio Court
rt Asian A Museum
St. allister McA
Market commerce l Federa
g
Buildin
ll
City Ha Herbst
Theatre
lic SF Pub y r a r ib L
United Cafe Nations ege City Coll of SF m Orpheu Theater
h 8t
SF ny m y S pho
t. Hayes S
t. ke tS
Nightlife / entertainment
ar
t. t. SF Dep h of Healt
Tourists taking photos ham Bill Gra ium Auditor
M
t. Grove S
. St
nS Frankli
ouse
Opera H
Weddings / tourism h 9t . St
ter
Thea Nourse
Gehl — Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
171
Framework for Public Life
Desired zones of public life Wait for transit in dignity
Design of Civic Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s public realm should prioritize the type of life that we want to create in its public spaces; spacial and programmatic organization supports the desired public life profile and invites a density of activities.
Eat lunch in the sun
Sit in the sun Wait for the bus
Relax and celebrate the arts
Existing conditions including spatial characteristics, microclimatic differences and zones of active use, should be harnessed to invite a broad range of staying activities. Day and night commerce throughout the week
Play and recreation Celebration Tourism Protest Sit on the steps Small-scale shows Pre- and post-event gathering Quiet reflection and leisure Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Nightlife zone Arts and entertainment
172
Evaluation Matrix
Evaluation Matrix
A data-driven approach to amplifying public life in Civic Center
Evaluation of public life indicators Based on the findings described above and in discussion with the planning team and various stakeholder groups, Gehl prepared a custom evaluation matrix for the Civic Center public realm. This tool identifies targeted public life outcomes for each space and specific user groups. This tool should be used to evaluate progress toward desired life outcomes for both short term, temporary interventions (such as those initiated by the Civic Center Commons project) and for evaluating long term design proposals. Following a period of review and vetting, agency stakeholders should agree on indicators and frequency of evaluation and use this matrix to asses progress towards key public life goals moving forward. Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017
Draft 174
Follow the project and get involved at www.civiccentersf.org
Gehl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Making Cities for People
Civic Center PSPL 2017