Patten Square
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Situated in downtown Chattanooga, Patten Square was a collaboration between WMWA and ASA Engineering to reimagine the transformation of the city’s historic market square into a vibrant urban plaza. The design concept took inspiration from common architectural features of markets, as large oak trees arranged in a grid mimic the columns and canopy of market buildings. To meet the needs of the city to continue to provide parking when the space is not being used for events, WMWA developed several elements that direct vehicular flow and access without the harsh visual appearance of typical traffic control devices. For example, rough stone benches act as wheel stops, metal sculptures protect trees, and rough stone bollards mark turning radii. Drawing inspiration from the local material palette of Chattanooga, concrete walls capped with sawn and sandblasted stone caps reflect the relationship between the industrial and natural materials found across the city. Adding visual interest to the ground plane, a mosaic of clay pavers are patterned after the image of a forest floor littered with leaves. The use of clay pavers unites the site’s material history with the city’s commitment to sustainable urban design. Creating a focal interest, the new plaza will include Radiance, an art piece by Futureforms Lab, which will attract and captivate users as they enter and pass through the site. Patten Square was completed in 2021.
