This urban design study was commissioned by the Municipal Arts Society to develop a proposal to reinvent Columbus Circle as a great crossroads.
The design proposes removing the top layer of the circle, creating a gateway to the subway lines below. Like opening a pocket watch, the subterranean workings of New York are revealed, defined by lines of the subway navigating the underside of the city. A tourist information/ticketing center and cafe are integrated into the subway level and serve as a destination for visitors and residents. The outermost periphery, imagined as an extension of Central Park, is redefined by a circle of trees, roadways and landscaping.
