Page 32 - May Slippery Rock Gazette

32|May 2020 Pinnacle Slippery rock Gazette
Public Landscapes/Parks/Memorials
Drexel Square
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Award of Excellence
Continued from page 31
Drexel Square opened to the public in June 2019. Conceived as an intimate space for the community to gather, the park serves as the gateway into University City and pro- vides a clear transition from downtown Philadelphia’s urban grid to a lush, verdant enclave.
Taking the shape of an ex- pansive ellipse, the 1.3-acre park completely transformed an underutilized parking lot outside Amtrak’s 30th Street station.
Its pathways are a projec- tion of the earth’s meridian lines, with sparkling white granite contrasting the lush green grass and 23 ful- ly-grown Dawn Redwood trees flanking the natural stone planters along the perimeter.
A deliberate mix between
a plaza and park, Drexel Square is designed to be an inviting addition to the exist- ing vibrancy of the neighbor- hood. This space is the first among a network of parks that will eventually com- prise 6.5-acres of the 14-acre Schuylkill Yards neighbor- hood. These greenspaces will eventually connect 6.9 mil- lion square feet of workplace and lifestyle environments as part of the developer’s vision.
The designer’s brief for the stone was thoughtfully con- sidered and precise; this spe- cial project needed a durable material for the plaza and a contrasting clean material for all the planters and walls.
To achieve the contrast el- ement to the vast expanse of the space, the pavers were made to have two different finishes.
The planters and ellipse posed the most complexities,
so a fourth generation fac- tory was chosen that uses a combination of modern CNC technology and handcrafting to ensure a perfect result. The planters step down from the main plaza to the road- side and the design team was
passionate to have the cop- ings follow the same shape without breaking the conti- nuity and flow whilst it twists and turns a corner.
Please turn to page 33
© MARK ANDERSON. www.andertoons.com
Natural Stone Institute Member Company
CED Stone North America Montreal, QC Canada Stone Supplier
Other Project Team Members
SHoP Architects
Architect
West 8 Urban Design & Landscape Architecture Landscape Architect
Hunter Roberts Construction Group Contractor
Stone
G684 Black granite G654 Mid Grey granite G365 White granite
Judges Comments:
An urban jewel – elevating the public realm ex-
perience. The stone’s gentle curves and rounded edges convey a softness that’s inviting to touch. Convex granite lattice work is a delight to look upon. Challenging compound curvature, executed without lippage, received high scores for stone cutting con- trol. Overall, kudos for its contribution to the city.
Power Tilter Vacuum Lifter (PT1010TAIR)
From the stone yard to final installation, stone handling is more efficient and less dangerous with WPG® equipment.
Better! Faster! Cheaper!
braxton-bragg.com
Proud to be an Authorized WPG Distributor
Economical Vacuum Pads with Replaceable Sealing Rings
Hand-Held Vacuum Cups for Stone Handling
If Lassie was a cat...
“There is nothing as easy as denouncing ... It don’t take much to see that something is wrong, but it does take some eyesight to see what will put it right again.”
— Will Rogers