OLIN’s redesign of Columbus Circle is based on concentric rings of movement and light, transforming what was once an inhospitable traffic circle into a refuge where people stop, meet and relax in the hub of a swirl of traffic late into the evening. The fountain is formed by a series of ledges with cascading water and jets arching toward the center to reinforce the circular design and primacy of the monument, mask traffic noise and temper the summer climate. When turned off, the ledges serve as seating to avoid the typically forlorn character of unused fountains during winter months. Custom-designed benches are scaled to complement the civic space and are wide enough to allow individuals to sit comfortably back-to-back. Columbus Circle demonstrates the potential of reclaiming social space in conjunction with rethinking transportation infrastructure. The redesign devotes less area to vehicles, yet traffic now flows more efficiently. Disciplining traffic as part of transportation planning and successfully balancing it with social needs is a difficult task, but one that is successfully addressed at Columbus Circle and can serve as a model for other cities.
