Company: Cynthia Cohlmeyer Landscape Architect, Colhmeyer Architecture Limited
Location: Regina, Saskatchewan
Cynthia Cohlmeyer Landscape Architect and Cohlmeyer Architecture Limited worked three years with the City of Regina to complete consultation, planning, urban design, architecture and landscape services related to Regina City Square, a project called a “Big Move” in the Downtown Master Plan, and intended to enliven the City Centre. Reordering traffic, transit and cycling routes played a big role in our work.
Our task was to re-envision 12th Avenue in downtown Regina as a public square and to provide long term plans for Victoria Park adjacent to it. Our City Square sews 12th Avenue, Victoria Park and the Scarth Street Mall together, expanding the pedestrian realm, and claiming 12th Avenue for public events.
12th Avenue now scoops into Victoria Park where bus stops and broad sidewalks used to be. This alerts drivers to a newly shared pedestrian environment, while it frames a new City Square.
The Regina Folk Festival and many other events occur in City Square every summer. Monster lighting houses necessary technical support, and in winter skaters can sail under the lights on flooded paving.
The pavement is a unique, German pre-cast material, installed in a broad, repeating harlequin pattern. Underground vaults provide generous planting beds to trees in paved areas.
Shade screens stake territory for street vendors on the north side of the Square, and they protect south- facing buildings from the prairie sun.
The plaza is expansive, but it works for the everyday as well as for big events. To this end we built a necklace of living rooms around the arc of City Square. Each room is a resting place, complete with benches, chairs and lighting. Another smaller plaza integrates movement from the Scarth Street Mall through Victoria Park. This Plaza is covered with a network of small lights held up by corten steel supports. The plaza is furnished with comfortable benches and custom tables served by independent food vendors, heavily used when the Farmer’s Market is open.