Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners LLP (BBB) and Grimshaw Architects were commissioned by the Union Station Redevelopment Corp. (USRC) and its partners Amtrak and Akridge to create the Master Development Plan. Arup has been engaged by BBB to deliver structural, mechanical, civil engineering, security and fire engineering, sustainability consulting as well as transportation and pedestrian modeling.
The Master Development Plan for Union Station's 2nd Century will encompass comprehensive planning, public engagement and an environmental assessment. The project scope also includes conceptual design services for improving and expanding passenger spaces, enhancing the overall customer experience, as well as analysis and progression of the initial 2012 vision concepts to ensure the development enhances the functionality of the existing regional intermodal facility. The plan will respect and reinforce the station's historic setting, while also integrating it with surrounding neighborhoods, and the construction of Burnham Place, three-million-square-feet of mixed-use space, parks and plazas to be developed over the rail yard.
"We selected Arup as the lead engineer because of their experience with large existing station overbuilds and their skills in infrastructure, air rights and transit," said Hany Hassan, FAIA, partner-in-charge for Beyer Blinder Belle. "We were looking for a local team with an international perspective."
"We are excited to be working on the Master Development Plan. This builds upon our recent commissions on Burnham Place with Akridge and also station ventilation alternatives study with Amtrak," said Craig Covil, principal with Arup. "Our unique experience in the integration of major transit infrastructure and rail station design with high-rise overbuild property development to produce successful transit oriented air-rights developments will enable the BBB/Grimshaw team and the 2nd Century Partners to bring the very best of international and national relevant project experience to bear."
