Interface Studio

    Norris Street Passage
    Philadelphia, PA

    Things are always happening along the Frankford Avenue corridor, a steadily revitalizing spine of the Kensington and Fishtown neighborhoods, yet the Berks Street elevated rail stop is the third least utilized station in the SEPTA subway-surface system. Though a walk of only five minutes, the experience between the station and Frankford Avenue is not pleasant, especially at night—a condition many say contributes to the underutilization of the station. NKCDC hired Interface Studio to engage local residents in the design and implementation of streetscape improvements for the three blocks of Norris Street linking this segment of Frankford Avenue to its closest public transit station.

    This simple collection of strategies for the Norris Street Passage will have an impact greater than the sum of its parts. The ideas address both the street’s practical and functional shortcomings and its interstitial character as a gap between the Frankford Avenue corridor and Berks Street station. The ultimate goals of improving real and perceived safety concerns and creating a more visually stimulating gateway to the Frankford Avenue corridor will benefit both neighborhood residents and visitors alike. While the proposed improvements are highly specific to the physical features and character of Norris Street, the process and approach of the Norris Street Passage project will serve as a model to be replicated at additional SEPTA stops to promote transit use by improving pedestrian access to stations.

    Client: NKCDC

    Project Team:         Jaskiewicz Transport International

    A major focus of the study was to involve residents in improving Norris Street by increasing awareness of available grants for sidewalk and facade improvements that would contribute to the experience of the public realm, including anti-graffiti strategies (a), stoop enhancements (b), house number funkification (c), solar lighting projects (d), downspout gardens (e), street tree plantings (f), and sidewalk improvements (g).
    A major focus of the study was to involve residents in improving Norris Street by increasing awareness of available grants for sidewalk and facade improvements that would contribute to the experience of the public realm, including anti-graffiti strategies (a), stoop enhancements (b), house number funkification (c), solar lighting projects (d), downspout gardens (e), street tree plantings (f), and sidewalk improvements (g).
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    Opportunity sites identified along Norris Street between Front Street and Frankford Avenue.
    Opportunity sites identified along Norris Street between Front Street and Frankford Avenue.
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    Aside from Shissler Recreation Center, which is so bright it may be visible from space, the remainder of the greater Norris Street Passage area presents a very dark nightscape. This necessitated the creation of visions for streetscape interventions that would improve night visibility and contribute to the neighborhood's character regardless of time of day.
    Aside from Shissler Recreation Center, which is so bright it may be visible from space, the remainder of the greater Norris Street Passage area presents a very dark nightscape. This necessitated the creation of visions for streetscape interventions that would improve night visibility and contribute to the neighborhood's character regardless of time of day.
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    Long term strategies to improve the corner of Norris Street and Front Street should consider a number of design elements that would improve this underutilized lot as a safer and more pleasant "pass-through" space and as a prominent gateway to the Frankford Avenue corridor. The gritty and spontaneous character of Norris Street is reflected in the design integration of a variable surface materiality and in the creative transformation of the existing bollards.
    Long term strategies to improve the corner of Norris Street and Front Street should consider a number of design elements that would improve this underutilized lot as a safer and more pleasant "pass-through" space and as a prominent gateway to the Frankford Avenue corridor. The gritty and spontaneous character of Norris Street is reflected in the design integration of a variable surface materiality and in the creative transformation of the existing bollards.
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    The expansive street wall of the "big grey building" is a major opportunity to improve the experience of Norris Street. This conceptual rendering proposes a dual treatment of vertical gardening and simple geometric patterns to visually break up the surface and make it feel less oppressive to those passing by. The Philadelphia Mural Arts Program component of the Norris Street Passage project, which will be implemented during the summer of 2009, plans to utilize parts of the big grey building for its meandering mural of geometric patterns of embedded stones.
    The expansive street wall of the "big grey building" is a major opportunity to improve the experience of Norris Street. This conceptual rendering proposes a dual treatment of vertical gardening and simple geometric patterns to visually break up the surface and make it feel less oppressive to those passing by. The Philadelphia Mural Arts Program component of the Norris Street Passage project, which will be implemented during the summer of 2009, plans to utilize parts of the big grey building for its meandering mural of geometric patterns of embedded stones.
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    A simple streetscape intervention responding to the unique scale and layered materiality of Trenton Avenue proposes to replace a strip of cobblestones with native grasses. At night, another "layer" is introduced with the use of glow-in-the-dark paint to activate the nightscape.
    A simple streetscape intervention responding to the unique scale and layered materiality of Trenton Avenue proposes to replace a strip of cobblestones with native grasses. At night, another "layer" is introduced with the use of glow-in-the-dark paint to activate the nightscape.
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    The Norris Street section of the viaduct wall and the sidewalk in front of it provide an opportunity to extend the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program project. Overhead lights installed on top of the wall would greatly enhance the nightscape on Norris Street, improving night visibility and highlighting the potential creative transformations of the viaduct wall.
    The Norris Street section of the viaduct wall and the sidewalk in front of it provide an opportunity to extend the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program project. Overhead lights installed on top of the wall would greatly enhance the nightscape on Norris Street, improving night visibility and highlighting the potential creative transformations of the viaduct wall.
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    Cars are routinely found parked on the sidewalk on Norris Street, appropriating space from pedestrians and causing curb erosion and sidewalk deterioration. A long-term vision for the Norris Street right-of-way calls for a reallocation of space to accommodate a variety of users and create a more balanced level of service.
    Cars are routinely found parked on the sidewalk on Norris Street, appropriating space from pedestrians and causing curb erosion and sidewalk deterioration. A long-term vision for the Norris Street right-of-way calls for a reallocation of space to accommodate a variety of users and create a more balanced level of service.
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