Open Space and Public Access are a core component of the Port's Pier 27 efforts. This plan includes the creation of a new public space, the Northeast Wharf Plaza, intended to enrich the experiences of waterfront neighbors, visitors, and cruise passengers alike.
Located between the futures James R. Herman Cruise Terminal and the Embarcadero, this 2.5 acre plaza is arranged in several zones to allow everyday passive recreation, maximize views of the Bay, and provide activities and attractions for site visitors.
Northeast Wharf Plaza - Primary Components
- The Waterfront Edge allows for both casual and secure pedestrian access to the Bay. On cruise days the fence along the back of the pier apron would close to prevent access from the Northeast Wharf Plaza to ships. On non-cruise days the fence would be open to allow full access to the edge. The fence is designed with vertical pickets to maximize transparency.
- The Bay Lawn is a large grass lawn along the northeast waterfront available for unscripted recreation use. It would be available for informal lunch and picnicking, frisbee, kite flying, ball playing, and many types of spontaneous recreation. The lawn would be constructed in a planter on top of the pier deck and have seatwall or stairs around its perimeter. Three large character trees would be located over an area with greater soil depth, which is created by the transition of the pier deck that steps from the existing loading dock to the lower circulation space.
- The Entry Plaza serves as the fore court to the new cruise terminal. It is aligned with the Embarcadero crosswalk at Lombard Street and includes space for outdoor café seating that could spill out from the historic Beltline Railway building. The plaza space slopes gently up to the front door of the cruise terminal, where its generous dimensions could accommodate civic gatherings, festivals and welcoming to San Francisco. A hardscape paving pattern of bold swatches ties in with the cruise terminal building and pile spacing below the deck, and directs entry views to the waters edge. Suggested materials are colored concrete or unit pavers.
- The Embarcadero Edge would be finished with stepped concrete seat terraces with vine pockets. The upper height of the edge would be about 42 inches at its north and south ends, and bow up gently to a 60 inch height in the middle, where the height is necessary to accommodate the existing pier deck and a minimal depth soil zone for growing the lawn. The edge is stepped in sections that do not exceed 30 inches in height so as to avoid the need for a guardrail on top of the edge. The lower step of the Embarcadero edge is designed for informal seating available for people walking along the Promenade.
Alternative Site Designs
Two alternative site designs are illustrated, both of which contain all site elements described above, but differ in their treatment of edges, planters and other minor site elements
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