Carl Barron Plaza Redesign
Civic Open Space | Cambridge, Massachusetts
As part of the “Complete Streets” reconstruction of River Street, Halvorson collaborated with the City of Cambridge, HDR, SPORTS, McMahon Associates, and Project for Public Spaces to redesign an expanded Carl Barron Plaza, a significant open space at the heart of Central Square.
An extensive outreach strategy included numerous public meetings, working group sessions, an online survey, pop-up events at the plaza, and an interactive website. The goal was to create a flexible, welcoming, revitalized public space that addresses the needs of the community and those who pass through this important transit hub.
Now constructed, the redesigned plaza includes a "sculptural ribbon" feature, integrating seating, lighting, and a stage for community use and featuring local artist Sophy Tuttle’s “Riparian Ribbon” mural. A balance of fixed and moveable seating allows for greater flexibility and opportunities for programming. The reconfigured, multimodal design addresses the needs of bus riders, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
Visit the City of Cambridge’s project page and storymap to learn more.
principal-in-charge
Cynthia Smith FASLA
Bryan Jereb ASLA
Project Manager
Richard Houghton ASLA
Team
Client:
City of Cambridge Dept. of Public Works
Project Lead/Civil Engineer:
HDR, Inc.
Sculptural Ribbon Collaborator:
SPORTS
Transportation Engineering:
McMahon Associates
Community Outreach:
Project for Public Spaces
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