In an effort to improve the visitor experience and boost business, operators of a busy transit hub in Boston are bringing in performers and various activities to entertain people waiting and convince others to linger longer.
Boston's South Station is already a highly used space, but operators hope to make it more appealing for those who rely on it as a transit hub.
"Imagine a South Station with live music almost every day, along with performances by theater troupes, art exhibits, and a white-tablecloth restaurant, all while 100,000 people a day rush - or sometimes wait - to catch a train or bus.
That is the new vision of Equity Office, the company that holds a 30-year lease for the commercial space in South Station. The firm hopes to invigorate the grand concourse and entice people like DuVal to linger and spend money.
'We looked at it and said this is one of the best indoor spaces in Boston,' said John Conley, vice president of asset management for Equity Office. 'But the station is underutilized. We asked how could we take this terrific space and really enliven it.'"
FULL STORY: A vision of South Station as indoor park
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research