On Friday you will visit Post Office Square. Review these links before the trip
Trip Logistics
Before you leave home: Check the weather forecast when you get up. The forecast has been iffy – if Friday morning’s report indicates heavy rain, we’ll meet at CELOP in our regular rooms instead. If you have any doubt about the forecast, please check the Front Page of your class Wiki to make sure the trip is on.
Start location: Post Office Square, downtown Boston. It is officially known as the Norman B. Levanthal Park.
Date: Friday July 29
Time: 9:30-Noon – Check in with your instructor when you arrive so that we know you’re there.
Directions: Take the T to the Downtown Crossing stop on the red line (one stop past Park St.). Walk 4 minutes to Post Office Square via Hawley St. and Milk St.
What to bring: This handout, your journal, a pen, good shoes for walking, an umbrella…
At 10:30, the CEO of the Friends of Post Office Square, Pamela Messenger, will be available to take your questions near the small glass and bronze Ben Tre sculpture/fountain that is by the café.
At 10:45, everyone needs to assemble around the small glass and bronze Ben Tre sculpture/fountain that is near the café. We’ll head toward the Rose Kennedy Greenway (Dewey Square, specifically) and then on to the Boston Society of Architects.
Language: Please speak English at all times during this outing.
End location: 290 Congress Street. You can easily get to the South Station stop of the Red Line from here and head back to the GSD for your program lunch.
Site Assignments
1) Post Office Square:
Explore the park in its entirety. This includes the “park above” and the “park below.” Look at it from the perspective of the program you’ll be doing at the GSD.
Sketch something that you find interesting in your journal, to share on Monday.
Look for the answer to this question: How many functions does this park fulfill? Write them in your journal. Identify each one as “productive” or “consumptive.” When you’re finished, think about whether you would call this site an urban forest. Why or why not? Share your findings in class on Monday.
2) Boston Society of Architects:
Explore the exhibit on playgrounds. Compare what you see in the exhibit to your childhood playgrounds. Come prepared to share your thoughts in class on Monday. Similarities? Differences? What do kids want in a playground? Parents?
Resources for learning about Post Office Square
Padjen: This article is good for getting an overview of the site, i.e., for background information.
Everyone should have read this prior to Thursday’s class.
Park Website: normanblevanthalpark.org
About >-> History (good for learning about finance)
About >-> Project History (good for all research questions)
Amenities and Programming (good for balance of functions and recreation)
PO Fitness (good for recreation)
Design Features (good for balance of functions)
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0ahUKEwjwkqeE1o_OAhXKGR4KHeN9AQUQFgghMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.geiconsultants.com%2Fstuff%2Fcontentmgr%2Ffiles%2F0%2F6851d2f90ddec34ea2e3fbb1769a4f9a%2Fdownload%2Fpost_office_square_parking_garage.pdf&usg=AFQjCNGDWiSM44qatWiy1PMx07wpug6Ewg&sig2=UkVNFBXnWNg5KNRi3WeXAg&bvm=bv.127984354,d.dmo
This link is useful for learning about the construction method that was used.
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.