ARPLAN 2

PLANNING 2 : FUNDAMENTALS OF URBAN DESIGN

& COMMUNITY ARCHITECTURE

DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR:

Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

PREPARED BY: AR.HERACLES A. MANALILI, JR. Rmp

CHECKED BY: AR./ENP RACHELLE S. MORALES

SOURCE: Civic Building and Civic Center Architecture: Design for the Public BY HMC Architect
Link: https://hmcarchitects.com/thought-leadership/civic-building-and-civic-center-architecture-design-for-the-
public/
 DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

What is Civic Center? A building complex which houses similar

functions. Municipal entertainment center The administrative hub of a
town, city or district A prominent land area within a community that is
constructed to be its focal point or center.
https://www.slideshare.net/dabdabeedabs/civic-center

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:City_and_County_Building_-
_Civic_Center_Park,_Denver_-_DSC01193.jpg
DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

Civic center planning can be very challenging, as architecture and

design options are as diverse as the members of the public the
buildings will serve. Planning also involves weighing the importance
of short-term issues against long-term objectives and can often mean
dealing with conflicting political agendas. These things can be
particularly challenging given that taxpayers are footing the bill.

https://www.thesfnews.com/civic-center-shooting-1-dead-1-injured/32634
 DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

While all civic center projects are different, there are 10 primary design tactics that
experienced architectural firms implement to create a beautiful and highly functional
civic center that reflects the diversity and values of the community it will serve:

1.Design for Functionality

2.Choose the Most Effective Layout
3.Inject Character
4.Offer Community Amenities
5.Set the Tone Through Landscaping
6.Provide Efficient Wayfinding
7.Design with Technology on Top of
Mind
8.Foster a Sense of Security
9.Design for Sustainability
10.Prioritize Cost-Efficiency
 DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

1. Design for Functionality

Civic centers serve many purposes and people and, therefore, must operate
efficiently. For that reason, civic planners and their architects must consider the
external needs of the community, the internal operational needs of the center’s staff
and the building itself, and city, state and local regulations.
DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

2. Choose the Most Effective Layout

Layout is one of the most important aspects of civic center architecture design. You’ll
want to thoughtfully choreograph the visitor experience while making the center
efficient for staff. Be innovative but also scrutinize the difficult quickly, keeping
an eye out for the unexpected in terms of logistics and budget.
 DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

Seamless Flows
Design your civic center around the most frequently used spaces.
Information centers, multipurpose halls, and the cafeteria or cafe should all be
easily accessible and placed at the entrance or in the center of the complex.
Specific-purposes spaces, such as permit and license offices, can be located
farther away.

https://www.infodocket.com/2019/06/04/report-coworking-in-libraries-and-
other-ways-these-civic-spaces-are-evolving/
 DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

Wide Corridors
Wide corridors foster improved navigation and better accommodate wheelchairs,
motorized scooters, and visitors with service animals.

https://www.shutterstock.com/search/wide+hallway
 DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

Comfortable, Appealing Courtyards

Your courtyard should be beautiful enough to draw the public and comfortable
enough that people will sit for a time to enjoy it. Include local plants, trees, and
sculptures, and position outdoor seating in areas that provide shade throughout the
day. Also consider indoor-outdoor transition spaces, such as eco-atriums.

https://www.hess.eu/en/news/experten-interviews/urban-public-spaces

https://ny.curbed.com/2017/6/29/15895268/fort-greene-300-ashland-public-
plaza-debut
 DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

Future Needs
Always include soft spaces that can easily be adapted to a community’s future
needs. A room currently used to store voting materials, for example, might be
designed with more outlets to easily convert it into an electronic voting center as
your community’s needs evolve.
Purposeful Lighting
Parking lots and exterior pathways that are well lit will make visitors feel safe and
can help prevent theft and vandalism. Indoors, use thoughtful lighting to highlight
artwork and impressive civic center architecture design elements.
 DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

Acoustics
In order for your center to best serve the public, it must be conducive to clear
communication. Acoustic panels on interior walls will absorb excess noise and
improve efficiency. Outside, a smartly placed fountain can drown out the sounds of
traffic.
DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

3. Inject Character
Civic center architecture design should mirror the qualities and values of the
community it serves and be a source of public pride. Experienced architects help
their clients incorporate the center’s ethos and logo or motto into the design, as
well as understand the most admirable trends in color and design versus those
that are fleeting.
 DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

Diversity
People are the first priority in any civic project. So, a civic building must not simply
respond to diversity, but also respect and embrace it. A good balance between
traditional and divergent perspectives must exist.

https://builtin.com/diversity-inclusion/types-of-diversity-in-the-workplace
 DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

History
To attract visitors, a civic center should provide a wealth of information and a taste
of history from the local region.

Local Artwork
Commission local artists to create murals and sculptures that represent
community values and exude positivity.

https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/art/5-artworks-that-celebrate-
philippine-independence-day-reflecting-on-a-revolution-that-ended-colonial-
rule-1.1032598
 DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

4. Offer Community Amenities

In addition to meeting the needs of your community and staff, consider additional
amenities that will draw more visitors to your civic center and make them feel
comfortable while there,.

Public Transportation Access

When possible, site your civic center close to public transportation to not only provide all
community members with easy access to the facility, but also to help the environment by
reducing automobile emissions. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) program provides credits to projects that are close to public transportation.
 DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

Classes
Offering classes, such as yoga, art, and computer training provides your community
with resources they might not have access to at home, and will give them reasons to
come back to the center frequently.

Coffee Shop
A coffee shop or café can make your center more attractive to visitors. Consider
partnering with a local business to further support the interests of the community.
 DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

5. Set the Tone Through Landscaping

The landscape design you choose for your civic center, especially at its entrance,
will set the tone for the entire plaza. It should be aesthetically pleasing and
welcoming to visitors, yet easy for groundskeepers to maintain.

https://blog.mdbinsight.com/how-public-amenities-can-drive-citizen-satisfaction
 DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

Grow Local Plants

Plants that are native to a town will tie the center’s landscape to the community
and, in some regions, will require fewer resources to maintain.
Use Hardscaping Elements that Reflect the Natural Environment
Hardscape features, such as stone or brick pathways and short walls, can add both
color and texture. Rather than using grey concrete as a wall material in a desert
environment, for example, use rough native stone that closely matches the rugged
rock formations and colors of the region.

https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2018/08/27/gilbert-eyes-new-
public-amenities-to-boost-growth.html
 DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

Carve Interesting Pathways

Design scenic, calming pathways around the complex that your visitors will enjoy
walking. Paths that wind around beautiful gardens and that are lined with
comfortable seating areas will encourage visitors to take their time and stop to relax
as they navigate from one building to another.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bouldercolorado/21684421049
 DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

6. Provide Efficient Wayfinding

From the moment visitors arrive at a civic center, clear directions should lead
them to their final destinations. To ensure that your campus is easy to navigate,
implement wayfinding design elements outside and inside your center:
Street Wayfinding
Entrances and parking areas should be clearly marked from the road or roads that
lead to them. Colorful numbered or lettered signs will help visitors better navigate a
large campus.
 DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

Exterior Wayfinding
Plenty of parking should be available and parking spaces should be placed near
wide walkways. Parking for visitors with limited mobility should exist closest to the
main entrance. Signage on all walkways should be clear and lead visitors to the
main entrance.

https://www.mailboxesandsigns.com/products/ https://www.smashingmagazine.com/street-
wayfinding-signage/ and-wayfinding-signs-part-4/
 DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

Interior Wayfinding
Place directional signs throughout the entrance hall, in elevator and stair bays, and in
corridors. Every room should also be clearly labeled. Many civic centers now include at
least one digital welcome station at the front entrance to provide visitors with maps and
visual aids to help them navigates the building.

https://www.behance.net/gallery/36579789/Wayfinding-Signage-Interior-
Design
DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

7. Design with Technology Top of Mind

Modern technology allows you to offer more and better services to your
community. But, given the speed at which technology advances today, your
building must also be designed to adapt to the changing needs of tomorrow.

Charging Centers
Create areas where visitors can charge their mobile devices. Design them
with plenty of outlets and furnishings with built-in chargers.

Online Resources
Offer computer workstations that are centered around the resources your
community needs most. For example, electronic voter registration stations
encourage members of your community to register to vote and to keep their
records up to date. They won’t have to ask for assistance, as the screen will
walk them through every step of the process
 DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

8. Foster a Sense of Security

City planners and architects face a slew of security concerns when designing new
public buildings. There are a number of effective security measures that you can
take to ensure that visitors feel safe in your civic center.

Consult the Experts

Train Staff

Improve Lines Of Sight

Use Materials that Support Security

Install Security Cameras

 DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

9. Design for Sustainability

With the advent of LEED and zero net energy goals, more civic center architecture
design planners are seeking ways to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings and
create more sustainable spaces. By looking at existing LEED-certified civic spaces
you can discover ways to create a more environmentally-friendly civic center in your
neighborhood.
Promote Energy Efficiency

Reduce Water Consumption

Improve Cost Efficiency

 DESIGN REQUIREMENT FOR: Government/Civic Centers & Plazas

10. Prioritize Cost-Efficiency

Nearly all civic center projects are paid for by tax dollars. As a result, budgets are
usually tight. To make the most out of a limited budget and focus on cost efficiency,
you should:

Use Durable Materials

Avoid-Over Designing

Plan For Expansion

Plan for Expansion