PILOT IS COMPLETED
Have a Seat on Towbes Plaza
We’re tested seating with the Santa Barbara Public Library to learn how people use the plaza, where they gather and what could make the space work better.
96.4%
Community Support
for the "Have a Seat" Pilot
Based on survey responses collected March 3, 2026 - July 28, 2026.
This temporary seating pilot was a collaboration between Friends of State Street, the Santa Barbara Public Library, and the Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation.
This initiative explored the potential to introduce seating on the plaza that is:
- Temporary, installed during library hours and removed each evening
- Purposeful, supporting families, readers, students, and downtown visitors
- ADA-accessible, including tables designed for wheelchair users (coming soon, on order!)
The pilot was designed to gather meaningful community input and real-world data to inform future placemaking decisions. By observing how the space was used, who it serves, and what might be missing, we can better understand how this plaza can support everyday connection in downtown Santa Barbara.
Why Michael Towbes Library Plaza?
Placemaking in Action
The Michael Towbes Library Plaza at Central Library is a civic space designed to welcome the entire community.
With the plaza’s recent renovation, this pilot explores how thoughtfully placed seating can support brief, positive use of the space — reading a few pages, sharing a conversation, waiting for a program to begin, or pausing between errands.
The seating is intentionally scaled and managed to support short stays that complement library hours and nearby cultural activity.
At its core, the question is simple:
What helps people feel comfortable pausing here — and returning again?
