Love Park: Civic engagement hands off to design work

The Hargreaves team of Mary Margaret Jones and Ken Haines was on hand to give some context about previous work and some direction about their approach for this project, which includes KieranTimberlake as architects and Pentagram for graphic and wayfinding design. (KieranTimberlake were the architects for the new Dilworth Park. Pentagram has done branding and design work for The Barnes and Philadelphia Museum of Art but so far no public spaces here, though they gave Bloomberg’s New York a new look.)

The project involves moving underground utilities, and improving garage elevators, stairs and ventilation, but Mark Focht, First Deputy Commissioner at Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, explained, “It’s really about the park.”

Here’s the timeline: Complete the design, approvals and documentation by late fall of 2015; bid construction over the winter of 2015/16; begin construction in early spring 2016.

It should be noted that some themes have been prepared in coordination with discussions with Ashley Hahn of Eyes on the Street.  Her October 23, 2014 article, “Build new LOVE upon old strengths” outlined some essential themes for the redesign of JFK Plaza/LOVE Park and PennPraxis worked with Ashley to flesh out some of her initial thinking in greater detail. More info: www.planphilly.com/lovepark