Last week, the Board of Directors of VIA Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio, Texas, officially approved plans previously presented by the architecture design team from EE&K a Perkins Eastman company to construct Phase 2 of the Westside Multimodal Transit Center. This construction award comes mere weeks before the groundbreaking, which is scheduled for July.
The new 90,000-sf development will principally service San Antonio’s growing network of city bus and VIA PRIMO bus rapid transit service, including real-time arrival updates, as well as become an iconic public plaza for the city. The design team is led by Principal Stan Eckstut FAIA and Associate Principal Jonathan Cohn AIA, LEED AP.
The public plaza, comprising a full city block, will be encircled by a varied metal and glass Grand Canopy, approximately 50% of which is covered by a photovoltaic panel array that will generate a large portion of the electricity required to light the facility. The plaza’s expansive interior will feature a significant stand of cedar elm trees, while a permeable ground surface and underground detention systems will control stormwater runoff.
The EE&K a Perkins Eastman company team includes local architects Ford, Powell & Carson Inc., led by Principal Jay Louden AIA and Senior Associate Michael Guarino, and landscape architect Lawrence C. Clark ASLA, Vice President of Bender Wells Clark Design.
“This will be the next great place for San Antonio, and not just for transit riders” says Eckstut. “First and foremost, the plan for Westside Multimodal accommodates the site’s various transit elements, but the space is designed to draw people in for food, entertainment and leisure. We have designed a public square that will encourage future private investments and continue to revitalize the city’s Westside District.”
The design vision for Westside Multimodal Transit Center balances mass transit with open green space, mixed-use development, public art, educational signage, and a host of sustainable design features. The Center’s main entranceway will be located at the corner of Frio and Houston Streets, and clearly identifiable from long distances thanks to the planned “Light Tower” installation, designed by local San Antonio artist Bill Fitzgibbons.
The site is adjacent to the historic and newly renovated I&GN Station, which served as inspiration for the final design. The new facility will also further expand B-Cycle, the city’s bike share system, and plans are in the works for the Transit Center to accommodate future rail service as well.
Related Stories
| Jun 29, 2012
Guardian launches industry’s first glass visualizer for interior design
Online tool allows designers to explore the possibilities of glass.
| Jun 28, 2012
Federal applications of renewable energy
U.S. Army Fort Knox: Using the Earth for space heating and cooling. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) facilitates the Federal Government’s implementation of sound, cost-effective energy management and investment practices to enhance the nation’s energy security and environmental stewardship.
| Jun 27, 2012
HDR opens office in Beijing
The Beijing office is HDR’s second location in China; the firm’s other office is in Shanghai.
| Jun 27, 2012
KBE Building wins honor for Armed Forces Reserve Center
The construction phase was completed in just 16 months.
| Jun 27, 2012
SOM’s Baker receives honorary doctorate in engineering from Heriot-Watt University
Baker recognized for his career and influential contribution in the field of structural engineering.
| Jun 25, 2012
Living green wall planned for InterContinental Chicago
Project, with price tag of $2 million to $3 million, needs council approval.
| Jun 25, 2012
AIA-NJ honors DMR Architects
The academic building, completed in 2009, provides classrooms, computer labs, faculty offices, and meeting spaces for the College, which has a steady 7% annual increase in enrollment.
| Jun 25, 2012
Thornton Tomasetti appoints Hofmeister and Zhu to board of directors
The addition of Hofmeister and Zhu brings the number of directors to 10.
| Jun 20, 2012
WHR’s Tradewell Fellowship Marks 15th Anniversary
Fellowship program marks milestone with announcement of new program curator and 2012 fellow
| Jun 15, 2012
Beck Group/Atlanta wins AGC Build Georgia Award
Site-specific safety plan, BIM analysis and third-party structural review contributed to successful implementation.