Moore Square Master Plan

Moore Square Master Plan reimagines a four-acre, 220-year-old public square in downtown Raleigh as a contemporary civic landscape while preserving the qualities that define its historic character. The design works carefully with the square’s existing mature trees, including specimens more than 200 years old, treating them as the framework for a new generation of the landscape. A subtle central landform organizes the square into distinct spaces for gathering, recreation, performance, play, and quiet retreat while creating an unfolding sequence of views and experiences. New planting, expanded tree canopy, rain gardens, and stormwater strategies strengthen the ecology of the site while respecting its historic structure. The master plan balances preservation and change, allowing one of Raleigh’s oldest public spaces to evolve as a vibrant and enduring landscape for the contemporary city.