Charlottesville Designer Chosen For Moore Square Design Effort
From a field of 79 applicants, Christopher Counts, a designer from Charlottesville, Va. emerged as the winner of Raleigh’s first public design competition. Mr. Count and his team’s concept and design was chosen as the winner of the Moore Square Design Competition, a competition to draw the best minds and most original ideas from across the country to the City of Oaks.
“It would have been too easy and too tempting to just transform Moore Square,” said Mitchell Silver, director, of the City of Raleigh Planning Department (shown at left with Mayor Charles Meeker and the winning team). “Mr. Counts’ concept plan embraces the historic elements of the past while supporting the evolution of Moore Square into a dynamic and sustainable public space."
Earlier this year, Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker issued the call for ideas that would reconceive the four acres bounded by Hargett, Blount, Martin and Person streets to best serve a new era. Moore Square was originally conceived in 1792 when it was designated as one of four public spaces in Raleigh. Since then, Moore Square became an historic, signature destination. The square serves as host for any number of high-profile, public events including Downtown Live concerts, Farmers Market, Artsplosure, SparkCon, World Beer Festival, area school activities, and summer movies, and the home of Raleigh’s most iconic symbol, the acorn sculpture which sits in the park’s southwest corner and “drops” each December 31 to usher in the New Year. Moore Square was not designed as a venue for large events and the heavy traffic has created significant maintenance issues and compromised the attractiveness of the park.
The first-place winner of the competition will get the opportunity to assemble a team of professionals to develop a master plan for Moore Square. The team will be required to include licensed design professionals and engineers.
The City gathered together some of the best local minds in design and landscaping to judge the competition. Rodney Swink, an award-winning landscape architect with a distinguished history of working with cities across North Carolina, was the design competition jury advisor; Jurors included:
Robin Abrams, head of the School of Architecture at North Carolina State University (NCSU), College of Design;
Kofi Boone, assistant professor in the department of landscape architecture at NCSU, College of Design;
Sally Edwards, president of Marbles Kids Museum;
Perry Howard, program coordinator and associate professor of landscape architecture at North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro;
Edna Rich-Ballentine, past chair of the Southeast Raleigh Assembly and recently concluded four years service on the Raleigh Historic Districts Commission;
Dr. Philip MacNelly, executive director of the National Association of State Park Directors; and,
Kermit Bailey, graphic design professor at NCSU.
The jury considered and ranked each submission against historic, social, design, economic and environmental/sustainable evaluation criteria. The winners are:
First Prize - $6,000
Chris Counts, Principal, Chris Counts Studio of Charlottesville, Va.
Team: Jenny Mikulski, Mike Smith
Mr. Counts’ design concept creates a new Moore Square that respects tradition while looking forward. People will feel as if they are being pulled inside, and experience a sense of welcome, safety and excitement. It becomes a civic theater: Its edges, lawn and subtle slopes animated and its historic oak perimeter protected and invigorated with an innovative planting strategy. Activities proposed in the square create an iconic destination that pays tribute to Raleigh’s vitality.
This design builds upon the square’s unique and significant characteristics while expanding the square’s sense of space and programmatic range. The design organizes the site into visually and functionally distinct areas that accommodate a wide range of uses. The original pathways are retained to minimize root disturbance and planters are removed to deepen views across the square. Existing path materials are recycled in the pavement pattern in a plaza that can host both grand and impromptu performances. The playground is embedded in the landscape and the northern slope includes an amphitheatre, or simply a place to sunbathe and people-watch. The design also calls for collecting storm water in rain gardens and enriching habitat in the interpreted natural area to promote sustainability and provide benefits for both the ecosystem and the people who will use the square.
2nd Prize - $4,000
Larry Zucchino, ASLA, JDavis Architects of Raleigh
Team: Marty Linn, ASLA, David Brown, ASLA, Sawako Bush, and Ponsak Denpattanapitak
Mr. Zucchino’s design maintains the square’s historic form by enhancing the historic pedestrian circulation patterns while maintaining a strong cross-square flow. Social interaction for all citizens is provided through new activities and functions. The design concept is a classical solution that respects historic pathways and responds to Raleigh as it is today. The sense of entry to the square is very inviting. The wide promenade makes the square accessible, walkable, warm and friendly. The design improves function with wider walkways, a flexible multi-use central area, a permanent small performance venue, and refreshment pavilions with restrooms and kiosks. Environmental sustainability is incorporated through tree conservation, native tree replanting, permeable pavements, local materials, storm water cistern, and LED lighting. Economic vitality is tied directly to the creation of a successful and attractive downtown destination for adjacent businesses. The design also strongly links the surrounding historic neighborhoods through the incorporation of desired uses and informative plaques.
3rd Prize - $2,000
Tom Lee, Stephen Stimson Associates, Landscape Architects, Falmouth, Mass.
Mr. Lee’s design concept is simple, clean, and flexible. It seeks to reaffirm the square’s historic identity of great oaks and common ground. The design provides a dramatic look towards City Market along a promenade connecting the north and south sides of the square. The design creates rooms that blur the edges of the square. Active and passive zones transition nicely to the great lawn.
Honorable Mentions
The honorable mention submissions respect historic use and experience. Each entry honors the life of open space and creates a wonderful civic destination.
Samuel Reynolds, President and owner of Reynolds Jewell, of Raleigh
Team: Justin L. Montgomery, Charles d. Bradley, Phillip A. Tripp
The design relates well to Blount and Persons streets. The heritage walk and great lawn conveys a fresh new look while at the same time paying tribute to the square’s history. The expansive great lawn works well for all ages.
Vincent Petrarcha, partner of Tonic Design, of Raleigh
Mike Cindric, Design Dimension
David Swanson, ASLA, Swanson & Associates
David Hill, AIA, NCSU
The garden rooms, drought resistant vegetation, and seating arrangement work well. Historic integrity is preserved in the walkways.
Eric Davis, Principal, Lappas & Havener, of Durham
Team: Ed Dwight, Sculptor Studio
Walt Havener, Jesse Turner, Robert Pratt, Lappas & Havener
Erin Sterling, Matthew Griffith, and Will Lambert, Frank Harmon Architect
All four corners of the square are very inviting, especially the emphasis on the southeast corner. The design highlights history in tile arrangements in the pathways.
Roger Lynn Spears, Senior Design Architect, Szostak Design, Inc., of Chapel Hill
The design concept illustrates civic elegance. The idea is simple, yet innovative.
Davin Hong, Senior Design Architect, KlingStubbins, of Raleigh.
Team: Paul Siricharoenwong, Eric Mitchell, Nick Hammer, Kristen Hawk
The cross access in this design highlights historic pathways with good pedestrian weaving along the promenade. The bio-retention area is up front and visible.
Beginning Monday, October 25, all submissions will be on public display at the Urban Design Center and on Flickr at www.raleighnc.gov/greatplacesmooresquare. The public is invited to comment on the first-place winning design through designmooresquare@ci.raleigh.nc.us or on hardcopy comment cards available at the Urban Design Center.
All of the winning competitors.
Prepared by:
David Blount
Public Affairs Specialist
Public Affairs Department
For More Information Contact:
Trisha Hasch
Planner II
Planning Department
133 Fayetteville Street, Suite 100
Raleigh, NC 27602
919-807-8480
Earlier this year, Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker issued the call for ideas that would reconceive the four acres bounded by Hargett, Blount, Martin and Person streets to best serve a new era. Moore Square was originally conceived in 1792 when it was designated as one of four public spaces in Raleigh. Since then, Moore Square became an historic, signature destination. The square serves as host for any number of high-profile, public events including Downtown Live concerts, Farmers Market, Artsplosure, SparkCon, World Beer Festival, area school activities, and summer movies, and the home of Raleigh’s most iconic symbol, the acorn sculpture which sits in the park’s southwest corner and “drops” each December 31 to usher in the New Year. Moore Square was not designed as a venue for large events and the heavy traffic has created significant maintenance issues and compromised the attractiveness of the park.
