World-renowned Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta has completed the expansion of Times Square by doubling the amount of public space-officially opened to the public yesterday. Snøhetta's new plaza on Broadway radically carves out 2.5 acres of pedestrian-only space at Manhattan's core, transforming a congested vehicular district into a world-class civic space.

The Times Square receives approximately 45 million visitors each year and it is the most visited destination in New York and the United States. After a staged-design process since 2009, the NYC Department of Transportation, Department of Design and Construction, Snøhetta, and the Times Square Alliance celebrate the completion of a reinvented Times Square, as titled ''Crossroads of the World'' embraces its role as a stage for public life and freedom of expression.

After the closure of Broadway to car traffic in 2009, Snøhetta’s design for the permanent pedestrian plaza cleared out decades of old infrastructure cluttering the square while creating a unified ground plane from building front to building front. 

Ten 50-foot long granite benches allow pedestrians to move through the area more comfortably, complementing the energy of the lights and excitement above.  Since completion in 2016, the reconstruction has doubled the amount of pedestrian-only space at Manhattan’s core. The design has transformed Times Square from one of New York’s most notoriously congested spaces into a radically open civic square, while also integrating crucial utility and event infrastructure upgrades. 

''Conceived as a project whose success would be measured not only by its new aesthetic but also the long-term physical, psychological and economic benefits on its community, the reinvention of Times Square stands as a model for how the design of our urban landscapes can improve health and well-being of its users while providing an important stage for public gathering,'' said Craig Dykers, Architect and Founding Partner of Snøhetta.

The project site, known as the ''bowtie,'' forms the heart of the Times Square Theater District, and is bounded by Broadway and 7th Avenue between 42nd and 47th streets.  Since the Bloomberg administration closed Broadway to vehicles in May 2009, and the first section of Snøhetta’s pedestrian street opened to the public in spring 2014, the transformation has already had a significant impact on public safety, economic output, and user experience.  

Pedestrian injuries have decreased by 40%, vehicular accidents have decreased by 15%, and overall crime in the area decreased 20%. And with the removal of vehicles, air pollution in the Bowtie area has fallen by as much as 60%, making the space safer and healthier for everyone. Over 80% over visitors now agree that the pedestrian plaza makes Times Square feel safer.

In addition to the benefits to public health and safety, surveys show that New York residents, tourists and Times Square Employees all feel that the pedestrian plaza improves the experience of being in Times Square. 

For instance, 93% of visitors agree that the pedestrian plaza makes Times Square a more pleasant place to be, while 88% of New York residents agree that the plaza gives Times Square a unique atmosphere that was not there before. 

Understanding the magnitude of these crowds and patterns of movement was fundamental to creating a successful new life for one of the most iconic public spaces in the world. Situated between Port Authority Bus Terminal on the west and Grand Central Station on the east, it functions as one of the key gateways to New York City: On average, 330,000 people move through Times Square every day. 

Accordingly, the new plaza on Broadway was designed to accommodate multiple speeds of pedestrian circulation with subtle design gestures that empower people to move in a natural, comfortable way through the space. 

Snøhetta’s design is inspired by Times Square’s past and its rich entertainment history – a duality that influenced both the larger concept and the project’s details. Times Square’s signature buildings and spectacular signs - the glowing walls of the Bowtie - create an outdoor room right in the heart of Manhattan. Snøhetta’s design creates uncluttered pedestrian zones and a cohesive surface that reinforces the Bowtie’s role as an outdoor stage. 

This clear and simple ground surface made of pre-cast concrete pavers creates a strong anchor for the space, allowing the excitement of Times Square’s commercial components to shine more brightly above. The area’s new two-toned custom pavers are embedded with nickel-sized steel discs that capture the neon glow from the signs above and playfully scatter it across the paving surface, referencing marquee lights and Times Square’s theater history.

Snøhetta recently completed the Lascaux IV Caves Museum in Montignac, France- the museum is distinguished by its pure elongated form and content on immersive educational experience of the prehistoric Lascaux cave paintings. The project was developed with SRA Architectes and Duncan Lewis Scape Architecture alongside scenographer Casson Mann.

The firm is currently working on a new hotel design-called Hilbert’s Hotel- in Helsinki, offering white-punched glass skin. The studio's design seeks to achieve a scale that is contextual to form a harmonious relationship with the surrounding urbanity and landscape as well as with the community as a whole.

All images © Michael Grimm

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