Honestly, for a busy plaza, I would skip standard wooden slat benches with painted frames. The bench I’d spec is a heavy-duty public seating unit with a galvanized, powder-coated steel frame and slats made from either HDPE recycled plastic or dense ipe hardwood. That combination takes constant sitting, standing, spills, weather, and even skateboard contact without looking wrecked.
The galvanized steel frame handles rust, while a textured powder coat resists chips, scratches, and UV fading far better than wet paint. Minor scuffs blend into the finish instead of turning into rust spots. Use stainless steel or tamper-resistant hardware so the joints stay clean.
For the seat surface, HDPE recycled plastic is the lowest-maintenance choice. The color runs all the way through, so there is no paint or stain to wear off. It doesn’t rot, splinter, or absorb water, and it cleans up well after graffiti and spills. If you want a natural wood look, ipe is the hardwood to choose. It is extremely dense, wears slowly, and weathers into an even silver-gray patina that looks intentional rather than worn.
Avoid all painted wood, light cushions, and thin hollow metal. Painted wood needs repainting, and cheap metal rusts once the finish scratches. Concrete and stone are durable but can crack, stain, and feel harsh. For a busy plaza, the sweet spot is a galvanized powder-coated steel frame with HDPE or ipe slats, open drainage gaps, and stainless mounting hardware. That is the formula for a high-traffic urban bench that still looks good years later.