Completed in 2012

30th Street Station is one of Philadelphia's main gateways welcoming first time visitors, as well as for thousands of regional commuters who pass through daily. The project site, on the south side of the station, had formerly been a parking lot that was uninviting and unsafe for pedestrians. Bridge renovations eliminated the outer parking lane of the original lot and created a barren plaza almost two-thirds of an acre in size. In 2012, University City District (UCD) realized that while the pedestrian paving was a great improvement, this alone was not enough to create the vibrant public space that this gateway desperately needed. Ground Reconsidered was hired by UCD to design a temporary park with a limited budget, until a permanent project could be funded.

The 50’ x 565’ space was vast and on a bridge structure, which prevented penetrations into the paving. Ground Reconsidered used large tree-filled planters along Market Street to establish a rhythm and create a strong edge to buffer pedestrians from the road. The planters were also used to create a series of outdoor rooms surrounding a larger central space for programmed events. Custom and large off-the-shelf planters did not correlate to the project's aggressive schedule or budget restraints, so Ground Reconsidered specified pre-formed agricultural watering troughs with mounded soil and a green roof system to manage moisture.

16,000 people work within a 5 minute walk of the site. Planters overflowing with visually rich shrubs, perennials, and annuals, are changed seasonally. Vividly colored tables, chairs and umbrellas draw people to the otherwise gray space. UCD has programmed the site with a variety of events, performances and activities for all ages and is working on the permanent park design over 13 years after the Porch was designed.

Team members: Client: University City District

https://www.groundreconsidered.com/projects/porch-v1-0/