We've featured the Bicycle Transit Center by KGP Design Studio few days ago, here is supplemental information, including full project description, credits, images, drawings and diagrams shared by architect.
If you missed our previous post, let's check it out here.
+ Full description by KGP Design Studio
Summary
At the cusp of a livable cities movement, this facility is a highly visible catalyst promoting bicycle use and alternative transportation options by providing secure parking, rental, and retail uses. At the doorstep of Washington's major transportation hub, Union Station, the sleek veiled form reflects the technology of its contents while complimenting its eminent Beaux Art neighbors. Echoing a bicycle wheel's elegance and efficiency, arched steel tubes are stabilized by a series of "spokes" or stainless steel tie rods in order to lighten up the structure. An energy efficient "skin" optimizes transparency while further moderating temperature. Further minimizing heat gain, denser graduated ceramic frit low-e glazing, opens up progressively to views of the plaza level.
Location
The Bicycle Transit Center is strategically located in the heart of DC at Columbus Plaza. Sited between two turn of the Century landmarks by Daniel Burnham, Union Station and the Post Office, the facility will be available to thousands of tourists, commuters and neighbors passing through on a daily basis.
Program.
The approximately 1,750 sf. structure will be divided into two areas; Bicycle Parking and Retail. The retail area will provide the following services: Bicycle Rental, Repair and Retail Accessories. The facility will include the following program elements:
Secure parking for 150 bicycles
Non-secure parking for 40 bicycles
Short term parking for 10 bicycles
Changing Rooms
40 short and long term Lockers
Retail area – 450 sf
Storage 50 sf.
In addition to providing the above program elements, the center should serve as a catalyst to stimulate bicycle use and alternative transportation means as an extension to the existing transit modes at Union Station. The facility should take advantage of its prominent location to become a visible transportation model as well as a focal center for the bicycle community.
Union Station, Washington DC.
Union Station opened in 1907 as a heroic example of American Beaux Art tradition, an example of the "American Renaissance" after 1893 Columbian Exposition. Grand iconic vaulted ceilings – recalling Roman Triumphal Arches and Baths make this building an "imperial transportation palace" as conceived by the architect, Daniel H. Burnham of Chicago.
The design of the building focuses on stone, glass and metal with accents created by metal frames, grills and light fixtures (introduced at the turn of the century). Barrel vaults were used in the formal spaces and a partial vault was used in the train room where a larger span was required for movement of pedestrians and luggage. A full barrel vault would have been much too high for the correct proportions and overshadowed the more formal spaces at the station entrance. Each end of the building had a "carriage court" where taxis and private vehicles could drop-off and pick-up passengers under the cover of the portico. Unfortunately in the 70′s, the train room (which was the largest hall in the world when built) was cut off on both ends to allow the construction of. Metro (on the west side) and to create space for ramps to the parking garage. This eroded the west "carriage court" and even today though this area contains an entrance to Metro the "plaza" only serves as a driveway to the garage.
Design Issues
The adjacent vehicular and pedestrian circulation placed demands on the footprint of the structure and it's location. Occasional bus access to the parking structure to the north required that the site accommodate two north south access lanes west of the portico as well as the proposed (BTC). Just as significant were the approach vistas to Union Station from Massachusetts Ave and Columbus Plaza. The West Portico of the station accommodates major entries to the station as well as contains the metro entrance and retail functions. Locating the structure to minimize obstruction to these vistas was a priority as well as to not compromise the existing uses at the West Portico. Ideally, maintaining a comfortable separation between the structures would allow the new facility to compliment Union Station while maintaining its integrity.
Historic Precedents
Though the center will stand in contrast to the massive granite walls adjacent to it, it will indeed relate to its context. More appropriately it will reflect the surrounding First Street bronze lamps and portal structures fronting Columbus Circle as mentioned above. The original riveted steel platform canopies out of sight but nonetheless relevant are also recalled in the details of its construction. The triumphal arch is repeatedly referenced in the monumental vaults and clerestories of Union Station in of Burnham's design heralding an "American Renaissance" following the Columbian Exposition at the turn of the Century. As with the more utilitarian low arch over the Train Room, the form is again referenced as the shallow vault in the transit center as a humble recognition of the ongoing celebration of travel as its modes evolve with time.
Structure
Reflecting the structural elegance of a bicycle in the center's design was a constant goal. The triangulated tubing frame and rim and spoke wheel maximize lightness and efficiency by responding to specific conditions. The rim, in pure compression, balanced and stabilized by the spokes, in pure tension, creates an enormously efficient and elegant structure. The BTC solves the challenge of vaulting in a similar manner. The length of the structure is spanned by longitudinal steel tube vaults. They are stabilized by a series of transverse tension members wrapping the vaults and carrying loads to the perimeter of slab. These tension members in turn double as support for the glazed panel system. In a similar manner the vaults are tied together longitudinally by the slab minimizing loads transferred to the roof of the metro station below. Inherently stable and acting as a shell or "helmet" the structure provides a continuous open flexible space. The structure will accommodate the changing needs of the BTC as it evolves with time.
Summary
At the cusp of a livable cities movement, this facility is a highly visible catalyst promoting bicycle use and alternative transportation options by providing secure parking, rental, and retail uses. At the doorstep of Washington's major transportation hub, Union Station, the sleek veiled form reflects the technology of its contents while complimenting its eminent Beaux Art neighbors. Echoing a bicycle wheel's elegance and efficiency, arched steel tubes are stabilized by a series of "spokes" or stainless steel tie rods in order to lighten up the structure. An energy efficient "skin" optimizes transparency while further moderating temperature. Further minimizing heat gain, denser graduated ceramic frit low-e glazing, opens up progressively to views of the plaza level.
+ Project credits / data
Name of Architecture Firm:
KGP Design Studio, LLC
1099 14th St NW Suite 101L
Washington, DC 20005
State and architectural license number of the submitting architects:
William B. Gallagher, Jr
Washington DC
DC 30019669
Official name and address of the project:
Bicycle Transit Center at Union Station
Union Station – Columbus Plaza
50 Massachusetts Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Names and mailing address of owner:
District Department of Transportation (DDOT)
Bicycle Program
Jim Sebastian
2000 14th St, NW 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20009
Names and addresses of primary contractors:
Grunley Walsh US., LLC (Prime Contractor)
Mazen Soueidan
1803 Research Boulevard
Suite 101
Rockville, MD 20850
Waltek (Glazing Design)
2130 Waycross Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45240
GPR Glass Projects Resource
7921 Jones Branch Drive
Suite 222
McLean, VA 22102
Weidlinger Assocates
201 Broadway, 4th Floor
Cambridge, MA 02139
Names of other individuals or firms:
Parsons Transportation Group
(Civil, Structural, Mechanical and Electrical Engineers)
100 M Street, SE, Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20003
Bike Station
Andrea White
110 W. Ocean Boulevard Ste. 19
Long Beach, CA 90802
Name and contact of photographer:
Donald Paine
KGP Design Studio, LLC
1099 14th St NW, Suite 101L
Washington, DC 20005
Software Utilized:
Sketch-up
AutoCAD
3ds max
+ All images and drawings courtesy KGP Design Studio
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