Capture the here and now: why contemporary train station design is such a hard sell … and how it marks our place in the Digital Age
Train Station Translation: Prairie Architecture
A humble statement from a not-so-humble guy: Prairie-style architecture echoes the “quiet level” of the Midwestern landscape Richard Lloyd Jones, publisher of The Tulsa Tribune, was furious: the roof of his new home, called Westhope, had started leaking. Jones called his cousin Frank Lloyd Wright, the architect who had designed Westhope, to complain that water […]
Train station architecture: designing the productive train station
A closer look at what it takes to make the train station a productive piece of the civic landscape My last post on train station design argued that the right architecture can make the train station much more than a place to wait—a well-conceived design can improve visitors’ perception of a community, spur the local […]
Rail transit and its influence on Midwestern architecture
A brief history of the rise, fall, and resurrection of train station architecture and the challenges it faces today Over the last two centuries, one of the most pivotal influencers of Midwestern architecture has been rail transit. Many of our most prominent cities still revere the grand train stations that celebrate the glory of the […]
Train Station Translation: American Arts and Crafts Architecture
Rebelling against industrialization: Arts and Crafts architectural style emphasizes homespun character with strong local materials and attention to detail The late 19th and early 20th century saw a dramatic change in rural communities’ social and economic structures. People moved from an agrarian approach to the long workdays and hardships brought on by urbanization. Weary of […]
Train Station Architecture: Enriching the Civic Landscape
The right architectural design can make the contemporary train station so much more than a place to wait. Every day, hundreds of thousands of commuters across the nation drift through train stations to catch a ride to work. Despite the growing popularity of commuter services, many train stations are in a sorry state of disrepair. […]
Train Station Translation: Richardsonian Romanesque Architecture
Strength and simplicity at the heart of monumental style inspired by 11th century European architecture In the 19th century, renowned American architect Henry Hobson Richardson developed a style influenced by the Romanesque architecture of 11th century Europe. The Richardsonian Romanesque style created a strong civic impression for facilities that play an important public role. Examples […]
Train station design: regaining the power of rail
Taking the train used to be an exciting experience. For many travelers, passing by beautiful train stations was an enjoyable part of their journey. However, in the ’60s and ’70s, the train station lost its power as a community focal point and a symbol of connection between towns. Speed of construction and saving dollars took […]
Train Station Translation: American Colonial Architecture
A testament of American values An examination of popular architectural styles used at American train stations starts with the nation’s infancy. More specifically, it begins in the mind of one of our founding fathers. Thomas Jefferson imagined a new kind of architecture . . . one that captured the democratic ideals of his young America. […]
The Magic of Metal in Architectural Design – Part 4 (Roofs: The Fifth Façade)
Metal roofing applications offer a mix of flexibility, durability, and attractiveness. Walls surround the three learning gardens at Community Consolidated School District 59’s (CCSD59) Early Learning Center. In each garden, one of those walls is covered in metal panels. It tilts inward, and its window patterns jog up and down as if imitating the activity […]
The Magic of Metal in Architectural Design – Part 3 (No More Thermal Bridging)
Insulated metal panels enhance building envelope performance, prevent thermal bridging, and promote sustainability. My previous post on the use of metal in architectural design focused on the material’s aesthetic flexibility. Though designers place a high value on the looks of a facility, they must also consider more practical matters, such as how a material impacts […]
Train Station Translation: A Lesson in Design Vocabularies
A train station’s style has a lot to say. Literally and figuratively, train stations connect municipalities. The station is the gateway to the tracks that lead people to other places. It is the face that a city or village shows to commuters, and, in many cases, an embodiment of a community’s values. Midwestern stations adopt […]
