When it comes to transit hubs, the ideal is to offer a network that's incredibly efficient for people to move in and out of it. This Chicago Union Station proposal aims to improve the messy circulation between the current train station and the busy city that surrounds it.
Louie Bofill and Todd Swanson worked on this project, exercising a sensitivity to the historic station and creativity where more modern structures are concerned. They suggest the recladding of a mid-rise tower above the terminal with a very contemporary cell-like motif of pentagonal protrusions. As for the ground and lower concourse levels of the new Chicago Union Station, the plan would be to create more fluid floor planes for easy transition from tunnel to street.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Efficient Transit Hubs
- Designing train stations that prioritize seamless and easy movement of people and traffic as they transition from the station to the streets.
- Historic Building Adaptation
- Incorporating modern design concepts and structures to refurbish and creatively reimagine heritage buildings.
- Fluid Floor Plan Design
- Utilizing open and flexible spaces for easy, comfortable, and intuitive movement within transit hubs and other large buildings.
Where This Applies
- Architecture and Design
- Opportunities in design, engineering, and project management, to rethink and revitalize transit megastructures for the convenience and comfort of travelers.
- Transportation Industry
- Creating a more seamless experience between trains, streets, and other transportation sectors, to maximize the benefits and convenience of public transit.
- Heritage Building Restoration
- Exploring ways to renovate and revamp historical buildings to attract visitors while meeting the needs of the modern world, without erasing the nostalgia or historic value of the structures.
