We recently shared six conceptual visions for the transformation of Los Angeles’ Union Station. Upon the release of the vision boards, the team’s proposals (EE&K, a Perkins Eastman Company, in association with UNStudio; IBI Group with Foster+Partners; Grimshaw with Gruen; Moore Ruble Yudell Architects and Planners, with Ten Arquitectos and West 8; NBBJ with Ingenhoven Architects; and Renzo Piano Building Workshop with Parsons Transportation Group Inc.) sparked much public interest. As we reported earlier, the Metro staff will recommend a winner to the Metro board on June 28th, but in the meantime, we’d like to share a closer look at some of the proposals.
UNStudio’s proposal with EE&K imagines Union Station as a multi-modal transit hub filled with mixed use development and outdoor spaces. The conceptual vision board explores possibilities for the station and its surrounding areas, highlighting a key integration of transportation and outdoor park spaces with its “green loop” strategy.
More about the vision board after the break.
The proposal’s emphasis on a green loop responds to Downtown L.A.’s need for a revitalized river and park extension. By preserving the historic Union Station building and gardens, the new urban park will extend the ideas of the existing historic courtyards in a new manner. The introduction of a vertical, layered strategy for the transit program shows the possibility of an open-air station that takes advantage of city’s light and climate, creating a distinctly L.A. response to the future of this important transit hub.
Ben van Berkel explained, “With our vision for the LA Union Station area we envision not simply a train station, but a new, flexible and lively transit location, catering for bikes, bus, train, cars and taxis for a wide variety of users. The mixed use program would ensure a 24 hours cycle of activity and liveliness for residents, tourists, students and business people alike. Along with the preservation of the existing station, the extension of its open air courtyards into a large public landscape would guide and orientate all the various user groups by means of one large gesture.”
Working as a multidisciplinary team, EE&K will bring their experience of large scale design to UNStudio’s architectural visions, and pair with Jacobs Engineering for rail and infrastructure needs.
As always, we will keep you updated on the selection process.
Client: Metro
Location: 800 North Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA
Building surface: n/a Building volume: n/a
Building site: 40 hectares Programme: train station, bus station, mixed use, parking, park Status: RFP submission
Credits
UNStudio: Ben van Berkel, Caroline Bos, Wouter de Jonge, and Imola Berczi, Aurélie Hsiao with Martin Zangerl, Stefano Rocchetti, Elisabeth Brauner, Qiyao Li
Primary Team Composition EE&K a Perkins Eastman company: Large Scale Design
UNStudio: Architecture, Iconic Places
Jacobs: Rail and Infrastructure Engineering, Constructability
Buro Happold: Facility Engineering, Energy, Sustainability, Performance Modeling
Extended Team Composition EE&K a Perkins Eastman company: Large Scale Design
UNStudio: Architecture, Iconic Places
RAW International: Local and Existing Architecture and Planning
Jacobs: Rail and Infrastructure Engineering, Constructability
Buro Happold: Facility Engineering, Energy, Sustainability, Performance Modeling
Fuscoe: Civil Engineering
WORKSHOP: Ken Smith Landscape Architect: Landscape Design
Patricia Smith: Landscape Architecture
The Robert Group: Public Outreach
HR&A Advisors, Inc.: Financial Planning
Kosmont Companies: Land Use & Entitlements
Pentagram: Wayfinding and Identity Branding
Historic Resources Group: Historic Preservation
KOA: Transportation Engineering
Ducibella Venter & Santore: Security
Lenax: Cost Estimating
Zuma Pacifica: Surveyor
