1. Schwartz Performing Arts Center Plaza Public Engagement: Charrette September 21, 2016

2. Project Team Cornell University: Campus Planning Department
Arts & Sciences
Schwartz Performing Arts Center
Student GPSA and SA
Design Team:
Trowbridge Wolf Michaels Landscape Architects, L.L.P.
Taitem Engineering, P.C.
T.G.Miller, P.C. Engineers and Surveyors
Questions: ATTN: Ram Venkat

3. Public Process
Charrette / Visioning
Concept Design
Final Design

4. Meeting Agenda Tour of Schwartz Plaza – 4:30
Project Introduction – 5:30
Small Team Charrettes – 5:45
Knowledge Gathering (what can you tell us about this site?)
Visioning (what goals should we set for this site?)
Reconvene & Share – 6:15
Inventory & Analysis Summary – 7:15
Conclusion & Next Meeting Date – 7:30
Questions: ATTN: Ram Venkat

5. Cornell University – Performing Arts Center
Designed by James Stirling Michael Wilford and Associates
James Stirling, 1981 Laureate - International Pritzker Architecture Prize
Schwartz
Plaza

6. Location
Schwartz Center
College Ave
Dryden Rd.
Cornell Law School

7. Municipal – University Planning Studies
2008 Cornell Master Plan
2014 Collegetown Form Districts Plan
Planning Context: 7 plans in 7 years
CMP: Incorporate active uses on ground floor of Sheldon Court
• Landscape and restore Eddy Gate Plaza and walkway
• Enhance gateway to campus by redesigning the Schwartz Center forecourt
City’s 2009 Collegetown Urban Plan
Focus on sustainable transportation system
Retain historic architecture and urban fabric, encourage excellence in design
Examine areas for possible increased height and densities
2014 Form Districts Plan
Provided relief from parking regulations
Allowed for significant density/height increases
Pent up demand for development released, applications began rolling in and continue
MAX. & MIN. HEIGHT IN STORIES & FEET District
Max. Stories Min. Stories Max. Feet Min. Feet
MU ’ 45’
Street-Level Active Uses Required (1) Within the MU-2 district, active uses are required on the entire street-level of all buildings fronting on those portions of College Avenue, Dryden Road, and Eddy Street designated on the map below. (2) Active street-level uses are one of the keys to vitality of the Collegetown core area. Active uses are defined as: (a) Retail store or service commercial facility (b) Restaurant, fast food establishment, or tavern (c) Theater, bowling alley, auditorium or other similar places of public assembly (d) Hotel (e) Library or fire station (f) Public park or playground
TIGER (Started Collegetown Cornell-City working group)
College Avenue becomes a complete street
Parking is removed from narrow roadway, even as pedestrian sidewalk widened
Crosswalks clearly delineated, pedestrian refuge areas added
Collegetown Vision Statement
2008 Cornell Campus Master Plan calls for strengthened university presence in Collegetown
2008 Clancy Goody Collegetown Plan
2009 Collegetown Urban Plan and conceptual design guidelines adopted by City
2013, TIGER Grant Application submitted to NYS, including major Collegetown streetscape improvements
2014 Collegetown Area Form Districts Plan adopted by City
large projects now in the pipeline
2014: City adopted form districts allowing greater densities
2009 Collegetown Urban Plan
2013, 2014, 2015 TIGER Grant Applications

8. State of Collegetown Today
500+ students live in on-campus housing in Collegetown
1000s more in private apartments/houses in the neighborhood
Significant private investment in new development (student housing, office, and retail) underway –new form-based code
New Cornell presence : eHUB & Johnson School Executive Education Center
Incredibly limited public/open space: Dryden Street Garage lawn
Cascadilla Hall and Sheldon Ct
removes parking restrictions, allowing height increases
Institutional development
Defacto open space – CTB (private), need connections to amazing Cascadilla Gorge Trail

9. Concepts for a Vibrant Public Realm
-Weaves together significant historic and natural sites (Eddy Gate, Cascadilla Hall, Cascadilla Gorge, and Sheldon Court) into densifying neighborhood, as they bookend a proposed green walkway with 2 new, distinct public realm areas
Study areas for improved public space:
Schwartz Center plaza and Eisner Pavilion
Sheldon Court plaza
Eddy Gate
Collegetown Walk
Oak & College Avenue intersection realignment

10. Concepts for a Vibrant Public Realm

11. East Elevation

12. Plaza – View South

13. Plaza – View North

14. Project Study and Construction Areas
Project Construction Area
Project Study Area
Schwartz Center

18. Small Team Charrette | Before we Design
Understand the site
Share what you know
Envision the possibilities
Share ideas for program, function, experience
Small Team Charrette | Before we Design

20. Public Process Charrette / Visioning Concept Designs October 26, 2016
Final Design Presentation November 28, 2016

21. Project Schedule Fall 2016 – Design
Winter 2017 – Technical Documents / Municipal Approvals
Spring 2017 – Bidding and Award of Project
Summer 2017 – Construction

22. Thank you! Questions/Comments: schwartzplaza@cornell.edu
ATTN: Ram Venkat