Proposed north-south section through stair

Built in the mid-1970s as an urban renewal project, Dilworth Plaza sits above multiple levels of transit infrastructure, linking regional rail lines to city subways, trolleys and buses. Comprising 2.8 acres at the intersection of Philadelphia's major art and cultural districts, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and the Avenue of the Arts, it has the potential to be a stimulating gathering place in the heart of the city. Yet its multiple level changes, vacant arcades, and confusing passageways deter rather than attract citizens, creating more of an obstacle than a place worthy of lingering.

A proposed redesign, undertaken by the Center City District and created in partnership with KieranTimberlake, OLIN, and Urban Engineers, Inc., outlines strategies to transform Dilworth Plaza into a welcoming gateway and orientation to Philadelphia's extensive network of transit lines, and a vibrant public space on par with other revered town squares in Philadelphia.

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