The carousel pavilion is a component of a larger landscape and infrastructure project (highlighted on the below site plan). The pavilion and plaza are built on an elevated deck that negotiates the level change between streets towards the riverfront edge. The site is framed by great city landmarks including the Roebling Bridge, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Paul Brown Stadium, and the Great American Ball Park. With the final phases of implementation currently underway, the riverfront park completes a necklace of open spaces on the river, links statewide recreation trail and bike systems, and reconnects the heart of downtown Cincinnati to the Ohio River.

In its simplest form, the pavilion is a large enclosed structure for the seasonally accessible carousel. The goal was to achieve full transparency to highlight the carousel and create a strong division between the ground plane and pavilion levels. The pavilion’s roof form with a continuous inside/outside soffit “hovers” over the carousel and connects the northern street edge to the veranda on the south. Inside, a large skylight at the steepest part of the carousel allows for consistent daylighting. The lower level of the pavilion is grounded as part of the larger plinth of the plaza and is defined by limestone and sandstone with a granite base. The lower level houses a series of rentable event spaces, park management offices, and utility infrastructure to support the park and plaza. The pavilion and event spaces are revenue-generating and support the financial sustainability of the park.