Option for more open space on Veterans Plaza

[jamie r. karn]

Last week I posted an opinion piece called "A Plaza for Everyone, Everyday" that described my understanding of the pros and cons of the roofed pavilion and ice rink that dominate the current design for Silver Spring Veterans Plaza. It also listed my suggestions that the ice rink be moved to the open space in front of the proposed future library site, and that the roofed pavilion be made much smaller to open up more of the plaza and to reduce winter shadows on the plaza. I have drawn an option for the plaza with those changes and have attached it here. I believe that this option is a good basis for discussion and debate regarding the pros and cons of the 7000 square foot roofed pavilion vs. those of more open space. Notice that I have indicated that the surface of the open space could be a mix of paving and artificial turf. This is obviously not "set in stone". There are some indications that the artificial turf will look pretty awful within a year or two, will be toxic, etc., but there are quite a few products out there and I think it is less of a risk to experiment over time with different natural and artificial turf surfaces than it is to experiment with the impact of a large roof and rink on a small plaza. Please let me know what you think of the option. Thank you. Jamie Karn.

[jamie r. karn]

Unfortunately, in my Luddite incompetence, I have been unsuccessful in loading the pdf file of the option. I will go to the mountain to gather wisdom from the host and try again tomorrow. Thanks.

[richard jaeggi]

This might work