A New Look for Central Square
As part of the “Complete Streets” reconstruction of River Street, Halvorson, our in-house landscape architecture studio, 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.
Photos: Ed Wonsek
