Walnut Street Plaza
Chattanooga, Tennessee
As the second built component of The Ramble master plan, Walnut Street Plaza highlights a design approach that address the challenges of reconfiguring urban spaces to be more accommodating to the pedestrian user. Located at the nexus of the Walnut Street Bridge and Holmberg Bridge landings is the most active pedestrian intersection in Chattanooga, and our design proposed a shared street and a new urban plaza that would comfortably and safely negotiate the pedestrian traffic. A large oval plaza signifies the arrival into the space and offers ample room for large, public events, while providing the necessary access for utility and emergency vehicles. Recalling the aesthetic of Chattanooga’s endemic material palette, the oval plaza incorporates Tennessee sandstone stairs, wall caps, and pavers, while custom wood and steel benches match the curves of the oval. In addition, the materials incorporated in the multi-use section of the plaza features unit pavers, curbless paving, and trees in the center of the space, which heightens driver awareness and creates a safer space for bicyclist and pedestrians. A spacious planter in the southwest corner includes a large oak and soil cells to ensure it can reach shade tree size. Phase 1 of the Walnut Street Plaza was completed in 2018, and Phase 2 was finished in July 2021.
