Peeling Back the Pavement: A ROW Park

The 1320 University mixed-use project is taking on a unique challenge by fulfilling the vision of public/private partnerships in meeting the open space needs of the First Hill community as outlined by the First Hill Action Plan.

Berger Partnership is developing the design of the public right-of-way as a permanent public open space. The concept is called “peeling back the pavement” and seeks to replace asphalt paving with planting, interesting paving textures, bike parking, benches, and covered seating. An intriguing overhead structure, similar to a green roof, will be planted and is symbolically peeling up from the ground plane arching over the gathering area providing shade, shelter and visual interest.

The site is home to the first pavement park in Seattle developed as part of an overall plan to provide open space to the neighborhood. It successfully activates an overly wide, paved crossroads at the intersection of University, Boylston, and Union.

First Hill Street park-1

First Hill Green Shelter rendering

First Hill Landscape concept

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