The Power of Shade
The Porch at 30th Street Station is a public space in Philadelphia that was created from underutilized land and parking spaces. The University City District, a partnership that improves economic vitality and quality of life in West Philadelphia, carefully planned the effort.
At the end of the project, University City District and Interface Studio performed a six-month site usage study which revealed that shade was integral in how patrons engaged with The Porch and particularly as temperatures increased.
The conclusion – sophisticated shade matters. Shade can transform underutilized space into a thriving community hub!
The Porch: 5 Years, 5 Lessons
Lesson 1: First, make friends. Then, make great public space
Lesson 2: Every desert needs an oasis.
Lesson 3: Launch. Test. Measure. Fail. Tinker. Succeed. Repeat.
Lesson 4: The end is just the beginning (and maybe even life changing).
Lesson 5: Imitation is the best form of flattery.
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