DILWORTH PLAZA: CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY

On January 30, 2012, the Center City District held the official ground breaking for the $55 million renovation of Dilworth Plaza located adjacent to Philadelphia’s City Hall. Dilworth Plaza will be transformed from an inaccessible, unattractive, hard-surface plaza into a sustainable, well maintained, green public space with no stairs or barriers from the street. The renovated Dilworth Plaza will add approximately 20,000 square feet of new useable area, which will increase the public space by more than 20% for a total of 120,557 square-feet. The new plaza will have a large lawn, tree groves, a programmable fountain, an ice skating rink and space for 400 benches and chairs, as well as a café. The underground will be dramatically improved as a new transit gateway, providing entrances to Broad Street and Market Street subways and the trolley lines as well as new elevators.

Support for the plaza’s transformation has been made possible by funding from the Federal Transit Administration through a $15.5 million TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grant; the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through a $15.5 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant being administered through PIDC; $4.3 million from SEPTA; the City of Philadelphia through a $5 million city capital grant; the William Penn Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; and surrounding property owners and individuals. Construction is on track for a June 2014 completion and PIDC has a bird’s eye view of the progress from its offices at Centre Square.

Coming in 2014 – Overview from Center City District:

The Fountain

The fountain (185 x 60 feet) holds a thin scrim of water with programmable three-foot- high spouts that create a dancing water feature throughout. Sections of the fountain can be turned partially or completely off to allow for concerts, events or movies. Rainwater, stored in a cistern below the plaza, feeds the fountain and is redistributed to irrigate the plaza’s landscaping.

Public Art Installation

A specially commissioned work of public art created by internationally recognized artist Janet Echelman will be integrated into the fountain and will trace the path of trains traveling on the three lines below the plaza in real time, coded to the colors associated with each transit line. Thin columns of dry mist will emanate from the fountain, evoking the water from the city’s first water- pumping station that was located on this site as well as the steam from the trains at the Pennsylvania Railroad Station that was located across the street. Echelman’s use of dry mist enables people to walk through the installation without getting wet.

Plaza Café

A café located along the north side of the plaza will seat 25 diners inside; seating for just over 100 people will be just outside the café. The café will be visible from the Pennsylvania Convention Center’s North Broad Street entrance. Patrons can experience a light meal inside or al fresco while enjoying the mile-long vista along Benjamin Franklin Parkway to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Southwest Lawn.

This raised lawn (115 x 60 feet) surrounded by seating areas is a perfect place to picnic, read a book or just relax with friends. It is slightly sloped to facilitate handicapped access and provides views of the fountain located to the north. The lawn is designed to host events such as movies and outdoor concerts.

The Market Street Walkway

The Market Street Walkway is the plaza’s central axis, running from 15th Street, through to Market Street between the plaza’s head houses, creating a “bridge” as it passes through the fountain and art installation. Along the walkway, changing digital images mounted on railings at the head houses will provide a variety of historic and current information for those living, working in and visiting the city.

Tree Groves

There are six tree groves located on the plaza, providing shade and creating an oasis in the center of Philadelphia. The tree species selected are conducive to city settings and include Honey locust, Black locust, Katsura and London plane. These tree groves will help lower air temperature as well as make the air healthier.

For more information on Dilworth Plaza, please visit the Center City District website at www.centercityphila.org.

For more information on how PIDC can be of assistance to arts, culture and recreation nonprofits, please visit our website at www.pidc-pa.org or contact Carol de Fries at 215.496.8150 or cdefries@pidc-pa.org.