MRA won a competition for the redesign of Baltimore’s War Memorial Plaza. Located adjacent to City Hall, War Memorial Plaza is one of the most significant civic open spaces in Baltimore. Built in 1927 to honor the 1,769 Marylanders who died in World War I, the plaza has served as a venue for political functions, concerts, and as a popular spot for relaxation. In recent decades, the plaza declined significantly, and renewal of the space became an important priority for the City.
The new plan maintains the integrity of the original layout, but restructures physical and visual access to the space by raising the lower level and providing access at the corners. Paved areas are reduced through the introduction of a large lawn panel surrounded by pervious crushed stone and a redesigned feature fountain. Edge conditions can now support public/private partnerships to provide vendor carts, permanent food kiosks and programmed events. An important component of the design is the incorporation of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) principles that increase the visibility of the space and the ability to defend it. The redesigned plaza now provides an attractive outdoor lunch venue downtown.
AWARDS:
2005 Merit Award, Maryland/Potomac ASLA
2006 Best Kept Downtown Property Award for Best Public Space Improvements, Downtown Partnership
