Two designs are being presented for what will be put in the Toomer's Corner area Wednesday, Feb. 27, in Foy Hall.
The firms Nelson Byrd and Woltz and jB+a are have worked in collaboration to put the plans together.
Warren Byrd, Nelson Byrd and Woltz, and John Fish, jB+a, said they have been working on the plans over the past month.
"The two new proposals were developed from the two most popular of the original four schemes that were part of the survey that went out a few months ago," Byrd said. "Both schemes really emphasize the replacement of two very large trees, likely oaks in close proximity to where they currently are."
The first scheme is the Circle Wall.
"This plan creates an intermediary space shaped by low brick walls making an area of gathering before going through the 1917 gates," Byrd said. "There would be benches placed along the path leading toward Samford Hall."
The second scheme is the Arcing Path.
"The primary difference with this plan is that it doesn't create a singular and distinctive space on the other side of the existing gates," Byrd said.
Byrd said this plan expands the path that leads toward Samford Hall by four or five feet and would be lined with benches. He said this would still allow people to both gather on the sides and walk along the path.
"The hope was that after what we hear today that there will clearly be a strong sense for one plan or the other or a combination of the two that will be the final one," Byrd said.
The designs to improve Toomer's Corner are being developed in response to the alleged poisoning by Harvey Updyke and eventual removal of the oaks.
Updyke was arrested on Feb. 17, 2011, for a criminal mischief warrant in connection to the application of herbicide to the Toomer's oak trees.
Dan King, assistant vice president of facilities management, said the final plans for Toomer's Corner will be announced after the A-Day game this spring and that the trees will probably be removed either one or two weeks after the game.
"Whatever scheme we settle on, we don't think could be accomplished before the coming football season," King said. "The target will probably be the start of the 2014 football season, but it could go later than that."
King said they have been working with the city on installing some temporary structures in the intersection where cables would be strung so people can roll that during the football season.
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