Profile

Broad Street Mall

Augusta, Georgia
Completed 1977

Lead Designer: Henry N. Cobb

Revival and enhancement of the main artery in downtown Augusta
 

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This project was undertaken as part of a larger plan to revitalize downtown Augusta. The focus was on Broad Street, Augusta's main downtown artery (and, at 168 feet, one of the widest streets in the United States). The street was difficult for pedestrian crossing and congested with traffic during peak hours. Primary goals were therefore to improve circulation and to create an envigorating environment for the declining Broad Street retail-office core.

The solution reorganized Broad Street for more equitable and comfortable shared use by cars and people. The design optimizes the street's greatest asset — its extraordinary width — to create a central median containing a park, fountain, seating, plazas, a new Chamber of Commerce and other spaces for community events. Raised plant beds contain and protect the park and effectively separate it from the roadway. Traffic was improved by the relocation of diagonal parking to the median at either end of the park, where parking areas are slightly recessed below grade and screened from view by heavy planting.

Broad Street's revitalization provided Augusta with a new focus of civic identity and pride, a more vigorous downtown and less congestion. With its completion green space returned to Broad Street for the first time since its trees were felled to accommodate automobiles.

Major Components

21' diameter fountain; 216' serpentine bench; oak trees; brick-paved walkways; concrete planters; street furniture (drinking fountains, public telephones, light bollards, etc.); paved parking areas and roadways, 2-story Chamber of Commerce

I. M. Pei & Partners services

Master Planning; Urban Design; Complete Architectural Services

Traffic

Travers Associates, Clifton, NJ

Transportation

Travers Associates, Clifton, NJ

Landscape

Roger W. Davis & Associates, Augusta, GA

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