LA 2222 (405)
Street Redesign and Pedestrianization in downtown San Luis Obispo, California
Brief: Monterey Street, between Morro and Chorro Streets in downtown San Luis Obispo (SLO), has indications of tactical urbanism – the taking back of street space from cars to pedestrians. This two-block section of Monterey Street is lined with shops, restaurants, and other commercial venues looking to capitalize on the foot traffic at shop fronts by creating a pedestrian-only promenade.
In our request for proposal (RFP), the City of San Luis Obispo is looking to convert this section of Monterey Street into a pedestrian only plaza that provides site amenities and a tie to local culture, history and vernacular design. This conversion is in line with SLO’s long-range transportation plan. Students work with design guidelines provided by the City of San Luis Obispo Transportation Manager and work with the downtown SLO AutoCAD survey provided by SLO city engineers. The studio included an on-site trip, a visit by the city’s transportation manager to our studio for the fall quarter, and a visit by an urban planning professor for the winter quarter. Both guests met one-on-one with every student to discuss their designs. The city transportation manager chose to keep student designs.
Every student created a site analysis plan, illustrative plan, illustrative perspectives, and five construction sheets: site layout plan, materials plan, grading plan, planting plan, and construction sections. Below are select examples.
Design One: Designing for Diverse Uses with Layout & Materials Plans
Design Four: A Modernist Take with Layout & Materials Plans
AG_Hardscape
Design Five: Bioswale for Connection to Local Hydrologic System
Design Six: Multiuse Trail with Planting Plan
Hendricks Sheet 2 Planting Plan
Design Seven: Walking Roundabout with Construction Sections
GM_Layout Plan
P15
Design Eight: Programmed Space of Amphitheater, Splash Pad, and Public Art
