Taming a 'cranky intersection'
An NCC study proposes transforming the corner of Sussex and Rideau into a public square, writes Maria Cook.
BY MARIA COOK, THE OTTAWA CITIZENMARCH 9, 2009 9:29
The intersection of Sussex Drive and Rideau Street is one of Ottawa's busiest. Buses roar past. Pedestrians brave slopes, perilously narrow sidewalks, heavy traffic and a concrete underpass as they walk to the Rideau Centre, Parliament Hill, the Westin and Château Laurier hotels and the ByWard Market.
"It's a cranky intersection," says George Baird, dean of the University of Toronto's school of architecture. The National Capital Commission recently unveiled a plan to transform the intersection into a public square with a monument, where people can walk, sit and relax.
Recognizing that traffic must be accommodated, the NCC looked for inspiration to such busy places as Times Square in New York, and Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square in London.
"The vision ... is to reclaim this historic space as an urban experience and transform it into a national icon," says a study commissioned by the NCC. The site "will convey a significant capital to the world and be representative of Canadian values, ideas and the nation's role on the world stage." The intersection is a key point on Confederation Boulevard. Dignitaries travelling from the airport to the prime minister's residence or Rideau Hall pass through.
The ceremonial route, which joins national institutions such as Parliament Hill, the Supreme Court, the National Gallery and the Museum of Civilization, turns here.
"You're faced with a pretty brutal environment," says NCC project manager Diane Irwin. "Pedestrians and cyclists, especially on the south side, are left to their own devices. For visitors it's very difficult. If you don't know the city, you don't realize you have to go down steps to get to the Rideau Centre." The pedestrian underpass would be removed, roads reconfigured, sidewalks widened and trees planted. The square would be paved and possibly have a fountain. "Water is a wonderful element to bring people into a space," says Irwin.
Nan Griffiths, a retired professor at Carleton University's school of architecture, is impressed.
"It's a fabulous idea," Griffiths says. "I'm sure it would appeal enormously and draw people and make people think that Ottawa is a city of some vision and some interest.
"It's all about traffic in that whole area and I think it should be about people because that's what a good city is all about." The redevelopment of the Congress Centre will also bring visitors to the space.
At stake is the balance between traffic speed and a more civic, refreshing sense of place. "We will try to reach a balance between accommodating traffic and public space," says Irwin.
Achieving the balance is a critical issue because it has to do with a change of attitude and to what extent traffic engineering dominates urban design choices. "If only we could get the traffic engineers to agree to take down the ugly traffic lights and install something more reasonable," says Rideau-Vanier Councillor Georges Bédard.
The space in question is a triangle with busy roads on two sides and a blank wall. It used to be the site of the Grand Hotel, which was attached to the east wall of the former Union Station, now the Government Conference Centre.
What makes it work from a traffic perspective is the MacKenzie Avenue ramp extension and the sunken underpass -- which has become a hangout for the homeless.
In three scenarios under study by the NCC, the underpass and the ramp would be removed.
Everyone agrees the intersection could be better, but accommodating the traffic will not be so easy. On a typical summer weekday the intersection is crossed by 28,000 vehicles, including 2,400 buses and 1,500 bicycles, and by 20,000 pedestrians.
"It's an extremely complex transportation knuckle with an extremely high volume of traffic," says Yves Gosselin, an Ottawa urban designer and former president of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. "Any attempt to create a true pedestrian space has to overcome these transportation challenges, which are daunting." One possibility is to put cars underground, he says. "It gets too crowded. Too many pedestrians. Too many cars trying to get through the amber light." Baird recalls bumping into former Liberal leader Stéphane Dion on the sidewalk in front of the Westin Hotel.
"I remember thinking the sidewalk is barely four feet wide. It's really mean," he says. "There's not a lot of space. There would be no way of enhancing the pedestrian space short of taking space from the automobile." Irwin says the plan is to reduce traffic speed rather than volume, and admits the creation of a square would likely cause rush-hour delays. An engineering assessment noted "major adverse impact to traffic operations" in two of the scenarios under consideration.
"It's time to stop worrying about the flow of suburban cars," says George Dark, author of a downtown urban design study for the City of Ottawa. "It should be an amazing intersection and it's not. It's a gigantic suburban intersection. It belongs on Hunt Club Road. It doesn't belong in the middle of the city.
"It's time to stop putting pedestrians underground," adds Dark. "You'd never build that today. In the contemporary city, it's transit first, people first, urban design and street life and enjoyment first. And if cars can get through, that's fine too." Would a downtown transit tunnel provide some relief to traffic pressure? During the bus strike, this was one of the intersections that often moved more freely.
The NCC sees the space as having potential for some sort of monument, though with the Rideau Canal, a world heritage site, and Confederation Square nearby some people question whether there is a need to compete.
It may be enough to make it an attractive urban space, a pause on the ceremonial route, as well as a breathing point in civic life, whether you're getting on a bus at the Rideau Centre, passing in your car or riding your bike.
"The monument part seems completely gratuitous," says Paul Kariouk, architecture professor at Carleton University. "It's never going to have the significance of the Cenotaph. This thing could be a glorified traffic circle." Kariouk says there should be an ideas competition. "If it's a vital threshold into the city for dignitaries let's rethink what that could be. It's almost like the front door to downtown.
"It has to have some quality that allows you for a moment to forget the city," he says, as well as "a stunning night presence" with illumination.
The NCC hopes to share costs with the federal department of Public Works. There is no cost estimate. "We know it won't be cheap," says Irwin.
They hope to choose one of three scenarios within a year or two and begin to develop a design. Irwin says the square could be in place in five years, although a monument would take longer.
Asked if anyone opposed the plan, she said no, but noted it's in early days. "We have yet to reach the contentious stage."
- - -
Three possibilities for redeveloping Sussex & Rideau
Scenario One
Creates a public space adjacent to the east façade of the Government Conference Centre. The underpass and MacKenzie Avenue ramp extension is removed and all pedestrian circulation is at grade.
A small island at the intersection of Colonel By and Rideau serves as a refuge for pedestrians crossing the street. It is the most minimal intervention.
- About 900 square metres of commemoration space
- All existing pedestrian crossings are maintained
- Existing traffic patterns are maintained
Scenario Two
Creates a central, triangular-shaped space for public gathering and commemoration.
The space is defined and contained by a ceremonial streetscape with wide promenades.
A centre median divides Colonel By. A new pedestrian crossing of Rideau is located at MacKenzie. The underpass and MacKenzie ramp are removed. Bike lanes provided.
- About 1,700 square metres of commemoration space
- Pedestrian landing areas at Rideau intersections are enlarged
- Sussex is one-way northbound to St. Patrick
- Traffic lane widths are adjusted to accommodate wider sidewalks
Scenario Three
The entire area east of the Government Conference Centre to the intersection of Colonel By and Rideau is dedicated to public space.
The space is contiguous across the south side of Rideau strengthening relationship to Rideau Canal, Confederation Square and Confederation Boulevard.
A grand boulevard is developed along Colonel By. It is envisioned with wide sidewalks and centre medians. New pedestrian crossings of Rideau at Mackenzie link directly to the space.
The underpass and MacKenzie ramp are removed. Bike lanes provided.
- About 2,100 square metres of commemoration space
- Pedestrian landing areas at Rideau intersection are enlarged
- Sussex is one-way northbound to St. Patrick
Source: Confederation Boulevard: Sussex/Rideau/Colonel By Landmark Node: An Urban Design Study for a 21st Century Space, 2008
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