SU’s Community Design Center to embark on redesign of Everson Plaza

SU’s Community Design Center to embark onredesign of Everson PlazaFebruary 11, 2004Amy Schmitzaemehrin@syr.edu

Through an agreement between Syracuse University and Onondaga County, eight SU students are proposing to redesign the Community Plaza – commonly known as the Everson Plaza – in downtown Syracuse. The plaza is located between State and Townsend Streets, the county power plant and the Everson Museum. The students are enrolled in SU’s Community Design Center (CDC), which offers architecture, urban design and planning assistance to neighborhoods and non-profit organizations, and works in collaboration with government agencies on community projects.

A public workshop will be held on Feb. 17 at the Everson from 5-7 p.m., during which community members can participate in a discussion of how the space can best be used. The students will also gather information from representatives of the visual and performing arts fields; the city parks department; and the OnCenter to identify needs of the local community.

County Executive Nicholas Pirro expressed his gratitude to Syracuse University and the CDC program Students. “The I.M. Pei designed expansion of the Everson, coupled with the upgrades to the plaza, will provide an important enhancement to our planned new convention hotel and the Oncenter Complex.” Pirro added that these improvements would promote use of this public space.

On May 5, the students will present their design proposal to the County Executive’s Office. Pirro’s office will then make decisions about how to proceed with the renovation of the Everson Plaza.

“The Everson Plaza is an under-utilized public space downtown,” says CDC director and professor of architecture Elizabeth Kamell. “Our goal is to make it a space the community can take full advantage of in various ways, including as a performance and exhibition space.”