Wednesday 9 November 2016

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Dublin City Council, along with the National Transport Authority, and assisted by ‘Happenings’, will be hosting a public discussion workshop, on Wednesday November 16 in the Mansion House Round Room, regarding the design of a civic plaza at College Green. The aim is to convene a public forum where citizens, interested parties, focus groups and designers can identify and discuss the challenges and opportunities at College Green. The discussions will inform the brief for the designers to be appointed for College Green. College Green has been the subject of extensive change, particularly during the second half of the 20th century. Early photographs and views of College Green depict a clean, uncluttered open space with expansive views towards Trinity College and the Bank of Ireland. From the start of the 20th century onwards, the space gradually became more cluttered, with the provision of bicycle parking, traffic control signage and signals. During the second half of the 20th century the median islands were formed, at first providing parking for cars before being paved and planted for trees. Now they also contain the memorials to Henry Grattan and Thomas Davis. In recent years the quality of the public space at College Green has suffered from increasing traffic levels, overcrowded footpaths resulting in pedestrians navigating across fast moving traffic lanes. All of these issues impact negatively on the experience of people using the space. An opportunity has been presented by the current LUAS Cross City works to fulfil the policy and objectives set out in the Dublin City Development plan to upgrade College Green and to promote the creation of a new public realm space. It is proposed to close the carriageway on Dame Street creating a large civic space in front of the Bank of Ireland which will incorporate Foster Place South and the memorials to Henry Grattan and Thomas Davis.

The design of a civic space

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In considering the challenge that the design of a Civic Space at College Green poses, the issues to be raised and discussed will include:

• historic context;
• existing monuments and art;
• pedestrian / cycling experience;
• public events;
• enlivenment – active, interesting place to be, temporary uses;
• night-time – experience, feel, quality, lighting, security;
• universal design – designed for all;
• greening and planting ;
• Seating – permanent and temporary; and,
• signage and information.

Opportunity and next steps

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The reconfiguring of the streetscape through the construction of the LUAS Cross City and the reorganising of through traffic at College Green offers the opportunity for Dublin to regain an urban space of prime civic importance and for that space to be of national and international significance. The next steps in the design process for a Civic Plaza at College Green will be:

• November 2016: A public discussion workshop regarding the design of a civic space at College Green
• December 2016: Appointment of a multi-disciplinary team to design a civic space at College Green and provision of the report on outcomes of the workshop
• January 2017: Finalise design brief informed by workshop outcomes
• Spring 2017: Submission to An Bord Pleanala
• Summer 2017: Commissioning and testing of LUAS Cross City
• End 2017: Operation of LUAS Cross City
• End 2017 / Early 2018: Construction work on Civic Plaza dependent on An Bord Pleanala decision

Book your place at the event HERE.