Stephanie Tabb
ARCH + TECH
CHALLENGE
A small team of designers from Woods Bagot’s San Francisco office and Surface Design collaborated on this competition entry aiming to reinvigorate the heart of Mesa, Arizona, a small city located just outside of Phoenix. A total of 18 teams applied to redesign the downtown area, and the city ended up selecting three designs, each with a different view of how to better an 18-acre plot located in the center of the downtown area.
SITE PLAN
THE HANGAR
The centerpiece of the park is ‘The Hangar,’ a flexible, all-weather space that reinterprets the historic hangar that once drew visitors to the site from around Arizona. Comprised of earthen walls—made, in part, from soil and asphalt removed from the site—and movable shade canopies, the Hangar can accommodate a diverse offering of events and gatherings, from exhibitions to performances. This multipurpose space acts as an extension of downtown and the culmination of Pepper Promenade, a two-block section of Pepper Place, lined with cultural institutions.
WATER
Dynamic water elements—integrated with the site’s
comprehensive reclaimed water system—activate the site while cooling respite on hot days. Three ‘Hydro Rooms’ draw inspiration from the historic canals of Mesa while playfully reflecting how water is experienced in the desert landscape.
