The new 105,000-sf U District Station in Seattle has opened. The LMN Architects-designed project creates a unified transportation solution and offers a new gateway to the University of Washington campus.
The U District Station is a highly functional, easy-to-use, and appropriately scaled transit hub that is conveniently located for the diverse activities of daily commenting students, workers, and visitors. It is the first stop on the Northgate Link, a 4.3-mile light rail extension from the University of Washington Station on its way north.
The station’s train platform is located 85 feet below street level, with the bulk of the entire 105,000-sf area below grade. Each of the station’s two entrances provides elevators, escalators, and stairs to the trains below. The north entrance lobby serves riders heading to and from the adjacent Neptune Theater and mixed-use neighborhood, as well as a major Metro bus transfer hub on NE 45th Street. The south lobby gives pedestrians a direct link to the UW campus a few blocks east. The sidewalks and streets facing the entrances meet Green Street standards and feature ample landscaping, pedestrian lighting, seat walls, and a bike lane. Both entrance lobbies offer bicycle storage and racks.
From the north and south lobbies, commuters descend through the escalator and stair tubes to a mid-level open landing that is placed within a tall voluminous central space. From here, they can continue to the train platform below via open escalators and an open stair. The landing appears to float above the angled cross-bracing elements and is offset to the east. This offset, along with artwork and video installation on the west wall, create a design asymmetry that helps to define north-south way finding and directionality on the platform.
The large central volume is defined by a white corrugated metal ceiling and canted walls that conceal essential back-of-house functions. Wayfinding is enhanced by overhead aluminum tubes containing lighting, speakers, and other systems. Two different colors aid passengers in orienting north and south: orange for north and blue for south.
The completed project anticipates record numbers of riders as Seattle’s urban evolution continues.
Related Stories
| Apr 30, 2013
Tips for designing with fire rated glass - AIA/CES course
Kate Steel of Steel Consulting Services offers tips and advice for choosing the correct code-compliant glazing product for every fire-rated application. This BD+C University class is worth 1.0 AIA LU/HSW.
| Apr 24, 2013
Los Angeles may add cool roofs to its building code
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa wants cool roofs added to the city’s building code. He is also asking the Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to create incentives that make it financially attractive for homeowners to install cool roofs.
Building Enclosure Systems | Mar 13, 2013
5 novel architectural applications for metal mesh screen systems
From folding façades to colorful LED displays, these fantastical projects show off the architectural possibilities of wire mesh and perforated metal panel technology.
| Feb 25, 2013
10 U.S. cities with the best urban forests
Charlotte, Denver, and Milwaukee are among 10 U.S. cities ranked recently by the conservation organization American Forests for having quality urban forest programs.
| Feb 25, 2013
Turner employs rare 'collapsible' steel truss system at Seattle light rail station
To speed construction of the $110 million Capitol Hill Station light-rail station in Seattle, general contractor Turner Construction will use an unusual temporary framing method for the project's underground spaces.
| Jan 30, 2013
RSMeans cost comparisons: parking structures, town halls, community centers
Construction market analysts from RSMeans offer construction costs per square foot for four building types across 25 metro markets.
| Dec 4, 2012
City of Gainesville to break ground on $33 million bus fleet maintenance and ops facility
The 140,000-sf facility will include dispatch, administrative and maintenance facilities.
| Sep 7, 2012
Manhattan Construction Co. to build Fairfax office building
Designed by Noritake Associates of Alexandria Virginia, the project is LEED-registered, seeking LEED Silver certification.
| Aug 7, 2012
How to win more state and local government projects
With a huge building stock at their disposal, state and local governments can be attractive clients, especially in these difficult economic times.
| Jul 12, 2012
EE&K and Knutson Construction selected for the Interchange in Minneapolis
Design-build contract for $79.3 million transportation hub will connect transit with culture.
