Austin J. Tobin Plaza – Movement and Memory

The plaza was a vast stage of daily life: commuters, visitors, and events all met at the base of the towers. Reading those rhythms helps frame the shared ground of the present Memorial.

Everyday Patterns

• Commute routes and waiting areas
• Events, gatherings, and pauses
• City wind, light, and sound playing across open space

Then → Now

How It Informs Today

• Paths and sightlines around the pools
• Groves that shape movement and rest
• Edges where city life meets reflection

Consider wind and light as part of the design language — not just weather.

Bottom line: Public space sets the tone for memory — it welcomes, slows, and connects.