Northcenter Town Square transforms an existing plaza and dead-end cul-de-sac into a neighborhood hub that includes a new play area, a large raised lawn, and a covered performance stage.
NORTHCENTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, SSA #38, ALDERMAN 47TH WARD, AND CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CDOT)
Northcenter Town Square
Chicago, IL
The existing urban plaza at Northcenter Town Square was little more than a grid of dying trees, and tired old paving, adjacent to a dead-end cul-de-sac. Outside of occasional programmed activities—street festivals, farmer’s markets, neighborhood concerts— the space generally sat empty. PORT developed a concept that unified the existing plaza and cul-de-sac to accommodate the existing programming and revitalize the space for daily neighborhood use.
COLLABORATORS
Civil Engineer: Civiltech
SERVICES
Urban Public Realm Design
Site Context
Northcenter Town Square is centrally located in the Northcenter neighborhood. The square has long served as both a formal and informal gathering and event space for the community. Community feedback revealed overwhelming support for the closure of the cul-de-sac to expand the Town Square.
Site Plan
To establish a thriving tree canopy, the design preserved all existing, healthy trees and replaced unhealthy, infected trees. The design enlivened the existing plaza with new seating, additional planting, a play mound, a decorative fence, a pedestal paving system, a raised artificial lawn and a stage with a removable canopy.
Northcenter Town Square opened in the summer of 2020 and has become a destination for the neighborhood to relax, eat, and play.

