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TKTS KIOSK

• New York, NY
• Competition Submission
• 1,000 Square Feet ticket Kiosk
• Project Sponsored by The Van Alan Institute
• Douglas Gauthier and Jeremey Edmiston; Yvonne Choy, Henry Grosman, Joe Jelinek, Tony Su

Based on analysis establishing the vertical nature of Times Square, the area is seen as the point where the layers of the city’s underground infrastructure, street, signage, retail, performance and office levels all coalesce. This proposal then engages Times Square by reinforcing and amplifying some of the existing layers to celebrate the event experience of Times Square. Not limited by a vision of civic orderliness, this project bridges the gap between the real and the similacra. Signage becomes form (the roof) and waiting becomes participation (the ramp) at the new tkts pavilion.
Helvetica text is projected from significant theatre sites around Times Square through Duffy Square — twisting at 180 degrees — maintaining proper orientation to provide a stochastic signage system. The overlapping text is truncated at the site boundaries and form a structural text-web, 5 feet deep, where the interstitial zone from the twisting letter-forms allows light to filter though into the workspace below. Vertical surfaces surrounding the ticket counters and below the overhang of the structural text are made of electronic signage surfaces that provides current ticket prices, reviews and the time of performances, as well as the time of day in larger text. These screen walls blur the interior into the street and signage of Time Square. Another blurring occurs when a series of pedestrian ramps open to the public — once street crowds exceed 1000 ticket buyers. At that moment the building becomes an active participant in the street theatre of Times Square. The ramps continue up through the structural roof and down again into the larger lines forming along Broadway. The services of the pavilion are fit within the ramps to provide a work environment that resides within the signage of Times Square.

All content © 2011 GAuthier Architect P.C.