Located in the center of the Oakland City Hall District, the Plaza was designed as a peaceful and historical complement to the international business and commercial activity of the hard-surfaced plazas downtown. The design for Oakland City Hall ParkPlaza sought to achieve a relaxing yet formal green or commons as an historically sensitive continuation of the traditional park that originally graced the front of Oakland's City Hall. A hard-scaped area was added to the north of the green to support civic events. Elements of the plaza include The Park or Commons which is a raised great lawn sprawling before City Hall as a soft, peaceful retreat for office workers and residents of the downtown and the The Forum which is a stage for ceremonies, speeches, and public gatherings but also for cultural events and performances at lunch time or on special holidays.
Awards
First Place Award 1987, City of Oakland
Architects
with YH Lee Associates
