The plaza and terraces of City Hall take advantage of the extraordinary southwest-facing hillside providing sunny exposures on our precious few cloudless days. The design provides a series of options for movement throughout the City Hall Plaza including elevators, sidewalks and stairs. These paths continue through the building to connect to the Justice Center on the east, and through the PSB Block to connect public transportation and circulation along 3 rd Avenue to the Civic Center. Materials Throughout the plazas, the walls supporting the terraces are of a warm light-colored stone. Horizontal surfaces are faced in a gray stone with iridescent accents reminiscent of the waters of Puget Sound.
Water is given an important role in animating and connecting the three plazas.
Beginning at the Justice Center Plaza, the water feature spans the entire project through landscaping, streets and buildings. City Hall Plaza and the PSB Block Plaza both contain fountains designed to allow playful interaction with water when operating, or usable plaza area when turned off. Plant materials include a variety of trees, hedges and ground cover that soften the built areas of the plazas and bring shade and seasonal variety to the Civic Center. Ongoing cultural programs coordinated by staff and guest curators of music, the written arts, dance, visual arts, and media arts for City Hall and Civic Plazas Temporary and permanent art inside and outside of City Hall will be available to visitors, the everyday work force and the surrounding neighborhoods. Art and cultural programming will be used to bring the people of Seattle to City Hall so those who govern have contact with citizens on a daily basis.