Case Studies LRSLAstudio shapes public spaces with new identities

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	LRSLAstudio shapes public spaces with new identities

LRSLAstudio shapes public spaces with new identities

Technology Category	Functional Applications - Product Lifecycle Management Systems (PLM) Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems
Applicable Industries	Cities & Municipalities Construction & Infrastructure
Applicable Functions	Facility Management Quality Assurance
Use Cases	Building Automation & Control Public Warning & Emergency Response Smart City Operations
Services	Software Design & Engineering Services System Integration
Challenge	Reclaiming unused spaces for public use is not new, but a fresh twist, now referred to as “Pop-up Parks,” has been growing in popularity over the last five years and provides a way to be playful with the street, much like LRSLAstudio did with its recent installation of The Oval. Cities are adopting pop-up installations as a means to test interest in a place before they invest a lot of money turning around a great public space. They’re a way to put out a little money to see whether the investment is worthy or not. The plan for this temporary, contemporary project was to transform Eakins Oval into Philadelphia’s new “Park on the Parkway.” As lead designer for this transformation, LRSLAstudio collaborated with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation to create a fun-filled, summertime venue that would feature free games, educational programs, entertainment, and movies for all to enjoy. The project grew out of the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation’s report “More Park, Less Way,” which outlined a three-year plan to transform the Parkway into a livelier space; The Oval is the first project to emerge from the report. Read More
About Customer	LRSLAstudio is a small, energetic landscape architecture firm based in Philadelphia. Founded in 1991 by Anita Lager and the late Peta Raabe, the firm initially operated under the name Lager Raabe Skafte Landscape Architects before adopting its current name. Today, the firm is led by principals Karen Skafte and Julie Bush, and it employs 10 design professionals. LRSLAstudio has built a strong reputation in Philadelphia and beyond for its well-planned, beautiful, and sustainable landscape designs. The firm has worked on notable projects such as The University of Pennsylvania, The Free Library of Philadelphia, Hawthorne Park, and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. LRSLAstudio's work has been recognized with awards, including a 2013 Merit Award from the Pennsylvania-Delaware Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects for its transformation of The Porch at 30th Street Station. Read More
Solution	LRSLAstudio’s positive relationship with the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Department has enabled the completion of many cooperative projects over the past 20 years. So reaching out to the firm was the logical choice when the city launched an initiative in partnership with the Fairmount Park Conservancy to reinvigorate Eakins Oval, an eight-acre space encompassing a traffic circle, fountains, a statue of George Washington, and a parking lot located at the west end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The tree-lined Parkway connects City Hall to the Philadelphia Museum of Art along a diagonal, mile-long route modeled after Paris’ Champs Élysées. The plan for this temporary, contemporary project was to transform Eakins Oval into Philadelphia’s new “Park on the Parkway.” As lead designer for this transformation, LRSLAstudio collaborated with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation to create a fun-filled, summertime venue that would feature free games, educational programs, entertainment, and movies for all to enjoy. The project grew out of the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation’s report “More Park, Less Way,” which outlined a three-year plan to transform the Parkway into a livelier space; The Oval is the first project to emerge from the report. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Functional Applications - Product Lifecycle Management Systems (PLM)

Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems

Applicable Industries

Cities & Municipalities

Construction & Infrastructure

Applicable Functions

Facility Management

Quality Assurance

Use Cases

Building Automation & Control

Public Warning & Emergency Response

Smart City Operations

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services

System Integration

Challenge

Reclaiming unused spaces for public use is not new, but a fresh twist, now referred to as “Pop-up Parks,” has been growing in popularity over the last five years and provides a way to be playful with the street, much like LRSLAstudio did with its recent installation of The Oval. Cities are adopting pop-up installations as a means to test interest in a place before they invest a lot of money turning around a great public space. They’re a way to put out a little money to see whether the investment is worthy or not. The plan for this temporary, contemporary project was to transform Eakins Oval into Philadelphia’s new “Park on the Parkway.” As lead designer for this transformation, LRSLAstudio collaborated with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation to create a fun-filled, summertime venue that would feature free games, educational programs, entertainment, and movies for all to enjoy. The project grew out of the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation’s report “More Park, Less Way,” which outlined a three-year plan to transform the Parkway into a livelier space; The Oval is the first project to emerge from the report.

About Customer

LRSLAstudio is a small, energetic landscape architecture firm based in Philadelphia. Founded in 1991 by Anita Lager and the late Peta Raabe, the firm initially operated under the name Lager Raabe Skafte Landscape Architects before adopting its current name. Today, the firm is led by principals Karen Skafte and Julie Bush, and it employs 10 design professionals. LRSLAstudio has built a strong reputation in Philadelphia and beyond for its well-planned, beautiful, and sustainable landscape designs. The firm has worked on notable projects such as The University of Pennsylvania, The Free Library of Philadelphia, Hawthorne Park, and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. LRSLAstudio's work has been recognized with awards, including a 2013 Merit Award from the Pennsylvania-Delaware Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects for its transformation of The Porch at 30th Street Station.

Solution

LRSLAstudio’s positive relationship with the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Department has enabled the completion of many cooperative projects over the past 20 years. So reaching out to the firm was the logical choice when the city launched an initiative in partnership with the Fairmount Park Conservancy to reinvigorate Eakins Oval, an eight-acre space encompassing a traffic circle, fountains, a statue of George Washington, and a parking lot located at the west end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The tree-lined Parkway connects City Hall to the Philadelphia Museum of Art along a diagonal, mile-long route modeled after Paris’ Champs Élysées. The plan for this temporary, contemporary project was to transform Eakins Oval into Philadelphia’s new “Park on the Parkway.” As lead designer for this transformation, LRSLAstudio collaborated with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation to create a fun-filled, summertime venue that would feature free games, educational programs, entertainment, and movies for all to enjoy. The project grew out of the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation’s report “More Park, Less Way,” which outlined a three-year plan to transform the Parkway into a livelier space; The Oval is the first project to emerge from the report.

Impact #1	LRSLAstudio was intentional about the elements it chose to fill the site, knowing several pieces would be reused. For example, the tables and chairs and game pieces are elements Philadelphia Parks & Recreation could repurpose for other events and locations, and the string lights could either stay or come back in new ways. The buoys used to emulate beach balls came from the department’s salvage yard. When the project ended, some components would be disbursed and used elsewhere.
Impact #2	The intent was to reuse, recycle, and repurpose as much as we could and get more than one lifecycle out of as many components as possible. She added that while the painted game boards would eventually be resurfaced with new paint, some original color may show through, and that’s not a bad thing. Having the flavor and a ghost image of what was once here will inform people that we plan to do this again and remind them of all the fun and memories this installation provided.
Impact #3	The Oval was packed with visitors from the time it opened, proving the concept works. It really fills a need for the surrounding neighborhoods and tourists alike. Hopefully, there is some learning that comes from this experience – learning about user patterns in the park and who wants to be there and when. This data will guide and inform the city about what a permanent design should look like.

Impact #1

LRSLAstudio was intentional about the elements it chose to fill the site, knowing several pieces would be reused. For example, the tables and chairs and game pieces are elements Philadelphia Parks & Recreation could repurpose for other events and locations, and the string lights could either stay or come back in new ways. The buoys used to emulate beach balls came from the department’s salvage yard. When the project ended, some components would be disbursed and used elsewhere.

Impact #2

The intent was to reuse, recycle, and repurpose as much as we could and get more than one lifecycle out of as many components as possible. She added that while the painted game boards would eventually be resurfaced with new paint, some original color may show through, and that’s not a bad thing. Having the flavor and a ghost image of what was once here will inform people that we plan to do this again and remind them of all the fun and memories this installation provided.

Impact #3

The Oval was packed with visitors from the time it opened, proving the concept works. It really fills a need for the surrounding neighborhoods and tourists alike. Hopefully, there is some learning that comes from this experience – learning about user patterns in the park and who wants to be there and when. This data will guide and inform the city about what a permanent design should look like.

Benefit #1	The project had a budget of $180,000 supported by the William Penn Foundation and the City of Philadelphia.

Benefit #1

The project had a budget of $180,000 supported by the William Penn Foundation and the City of Philadelphia.

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Overview

LRSLAstudio shapes public spaces with new identities

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit