YAKIMA PLAZA

Location:  Yakima, Washington
Type:  Un-built,  Institutional

Graham Baba was part of a team with GGN Landscape Architects that designed a new central plaza in the heart of downtown Yakima.  The project was put to a public vote rejected by voters. It remains unbuilt.

The goal of the Yakima Central Plaza was to create a centrally located public space that would act as a catalyst for economic development and community pride. Graham Baba Architects worked closely with the lead designers, Gustafson Guthrie Nichol, to ensure that the Central Plaza was not only highly functional and durable, but also fit the place and its people. A large shade structure would anchor the southern edge of the site. In addition to providing much needed shade from Yakima’s harsh summer sun, the structure would have become home to the weekly farmers markets and house numerous events throughout the year.

Image: Graham Baba Architects