At the intersection of Beacon and Centre Streets lies the historical commercial center of the Boston suburb of Newton, Massachusetts. While always recognized as a public hub, recent changes have garnered new attention to the area. The Newton Plaza project harnesses this new energy by transforming an irregularly shaped parking and loading area into a vibrant plaza. The space provides the ability for neighboring restaurants to seat patrons out of doors. To define the borders of the plaza, Kripper Studio conceived a perimeter bench with embedded LEDs to surround cast-concrete pavers, where lighting is also incorporated. On one edge, the 7,900 square-foot project includes a unique pedestrian connection to Beacon Street. The design also proposes installing a vertical garden on an existing load-bearing rear wall to improve dining acoustics and provide the wider public with an enjoyable visual marker.
