SHoP Architects today unveiled its design of the public plaza for the Atlantic Yards project that is now known as Barclays Center at the intersection of Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues in Brooklyn.

The plaza is 38,885 square feet of which 74 percent will be open space and the remainder "soft landscape and seating around the subway entrance that have a roof covered with Sedum, flowering plants that are known as stonecrops and which are intended to create "a living, wave-like ambiance and provide seasonal colors."

The planters closest to the transit entrance will also include curved, Ipe seat benches.

The plaza will have three types of pavement and, according to an article by Joey today at ny.curbed.com, "seating areas for scalpers when LeBron James comes to town,...and the Barclays Center Oculus, which extends over the plaza and looks pretty trippy."

The "Oculus," which will extend over a 5,660 square foot section of the plaza closest to the arena, is 117 feet by 56 feet and 36 feet from the top of the plaza paving. It will contain a display screen that can be programmed for games, events and other activities on the plaza.

"We of course want the Plaza to function well as a gateway to the Barclays Center," Bruce Ratner, the developer of the project, declared, adding that "it was also designed much like a park so it can be programmed for community events and diverse activities, such as a greenmarket and holiday fairs."

SHoP has also designed with AECOM Ellerbe Becket the basketball area for the Brooklyn Nets and its curved facade looks a bit like a coiled rattlesnake without its rattle.

Originally, Mr. Ratner commissioned Frank O. Gehry to design the very large project but subsequently decided to replace him to lower costs. Mr. Gehry, however, has designed the very tall, stainless-steel-clad rental apartment skyscraper now nearing completion by Mr. Ratner near City Hall in Lower Manhattan.

Greg Pasquarelli said that the plaza has been designed bearing in mind that a medium-size office building is planned for the corner.

In his article today at observer.com, Matt Chaban wrote that Mr. Ratner said that, for better or worse, the market for that looks a few years off at the very least. "This, in my view, is an extraordinary plaza," he added. "We did not cut any corners on the design."

The article also said that "Mr. Ratner reiterated his intention to begin building housing by next year, in a tower on the south side of the arena, on Dean Street, though there is no funding in place. He said he hopes a second will follow shortly thereafter. 'The market for rental housing is still very strong in Brooklyn,' he said. He said designs should be revealed sometime at the start of next year, but no architect has been selected."