Queen City Circuit transforms the convergence of Cincinnati’s Central Business District and the recently established district of The Banks by blending Cincinnati’s strong sports culture with a rich history of brewing and the growing business sector. Cincinnati’s environmental goals echo throughout the development; constructed wetlands treat local greywater, stormwater and solar panels provide renewable energy, and mixed uses provide a context for social interaction. To reduce car traffic, Circuit extends Cincinnati’s existing transit system with an additional stop and transit hub and features bike and pedestrian-friendly streets. Energetic plazas are linked by a pedestrian corridor which includes dynamic skyways, greenery, and the iconic cisterns for treated greywater. The modern buildings knit Circuit to the density of the Central Business District while creating a distinctive kinetic identity for The Banks. Attracting people of all ages and walks of life year-round, it is a place to not only experience Cincinnati but to be a part of it. Circuit is a unique expression of what Cincinnati has been and what it could be.
Visitors coming from the Central Business District are greeted by an elevated development over Fort Washington Way featuring an array of amenities such as Dabney Library, Fawsett Lawn and Botanical Gardens, Skyway Clubhouse and Putting Green, and a local retail hub with sight lines to nearby Homefield Plaza. Visitors are invited to join seasonal festivities and venture further into Circuit using the nearby open-air skywalks.
Linked to Dabney Library is the Howsam Transit Center, both of which are named for influential figures from Cincinnati’s African-American and sporting history. The bustling multi-functional building houses retail and collaborative spaces in addition to offices. Circuit draws Cincinnatians in through a new extension of the Cincinnati Bell Connector.
The western skywalk ushers users into Homefield Plaza, a hive of activity for people all ages and interests. Concerts and events fuel the electric energy as people emerge from the nearby Panthera Hotel to shop at the local shops and visit the farmer’s market. The Canal, a pedestrian corridor that pays homage to Cincinnati’s history as a canal city, ushers people through Circuit as the adjacent native plantings filter local greywater to be stored and recycled.
As people flow through The Canal they are led to Larkins Place, where they are greeted by two glistening residential towers with skywalks prompting residents and visitors alike to experience lush green roofs. Queen City Trade School offers Cincinnatians the opportunity to get a local and affordable education. The rooftop Greenhaus provides amateur classes on gardening, nutrition, cooking, and wellness as well as plots for rent allow locals to grow their own organic produce. Palmer Pond completes Larkins Place, offering model boats, ice skating, and events. To the east is The Backyard Beergarden, the local spot to relax, play games, and take classes on beer pairings and home brewing.
