PENN’S LANDING TERMINAL
STEVEN DEGROOT ADVISOR DON JONES
WHAT PRIORITIZING PUBLIC TRANSIT IN
PHILADELPHIA WOULD LOOK LIKE?
VISION CONSIDER
THIS PLAN RESOLVES PHILADELPHIA’S LACK
OF INFRASTRUCTURE FOR INTERCITY BUS
OPERATORS AND SERVES AS A CATALYST FOR
FUTURE PUBLIC TRANSIT CONNECTIONS ALONG THE
DELAWARE RIVER WATERFRONT LINKING NEW
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
WITH THE CITY.
CAUSED SIGNIFICANT CONGESTION
LACKS ACCESSIBILITY
CA
CA
TN
OH
TX
KNOXVILLE,
OAKLAND,
CLEVELAND,
BAKERFIELD,
HOUSTON,
LAS VEGAS, NV
BIRMINGHAM, AL
ARRIVALS
DEPARTURES
POPULATION >300,000
PRIMARY DESTINATIONS
SECONDARY DESTINATIONS
I-95 (NORTH - SOUTH)
I-76 (NORTH - SOUTH)
I-676 (EAST - WEST)
AVOID SEPTA BUS ROUTES
OFF STREET LOADING
DEDICATED BUS LANES FUTURE USER
PROXIMITY TO PUBLIC TRANSIT
PROGRAM NEAR SITE
GRAND VIEWS FROM SITE
NON-TRANSIT SITE USERS
SUBWAY LINES
SEPTA / TOURIST BUS LINES
FERRY LINES
MIXED USE PROJECTS
LANDSCAPE PROJECTS PUBLIC TRANSIT
CHESTNUT
THE CONSTRUCTION OF PENN’S LANDING AND PAST MASTERPLANS
BEGINS
PILES
LANDFILL PROGRESS + CONSTRUCTION OF I-95 SITE OPENS WITH BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS
ED BACON W/ CITY OF PHILADELPHIA SKIDMORE, OWINGS & MERRILL
2020 -
HARGREAVES JONES (PENN’S LANDING PARK) W/ KIERAN TIMBERLAKE (PAVILION)
SIMON PROPERTY GROUP
- 2002
2020 COOPER ROBERTSON FOR HBSE
2020 THE DURST ORGANIZATION
2020 PERKINS EASTMAN FOR HOFFMAN & ASSOCIATES
DAN RYAN INTERMODAL TERMINAL STATION BY EXP THIS STATION ALONG THE RED TRAIN LINE LINKS THE FAR SOUTHSIDE OF CHICAGO TO DOWNTOWN
ARNHEM CENTRAL MASTERPLAN BY UNSTUDIO A GRAND TRANSFER HALL LINKS BUSES AND TRAINS
CENTRE POMPIDOU BY PIANO AND ROGERS
MARKTHAL BY MVRDV
INDIANAPOLIS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TERMINAL BY HOK
KANSAS CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1988 KANSAI AIRPORT BY RENZO PIANO
UPON EXITING THE RENOVATED 2ND STREET STATION, VISITORS LAND IN TAMANEND SQUARE AND BEGIN THE APPROACH TO THE BUS TERMINAL. PASSING UNDER THE DROP OFF CANOPY, VISITORS CAN CONTINUE INTO THE TERMINAL TO CATCH BUSES OR VISIT THE FOOD HALL. ALTERNATIVELY, VISITORS CAN CONTINUE NORTH TO THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE LINKING COLUMBUS BLVD OR SOUTH TOWARDS THE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE LANDSCAPED I-95 CAP THAT EXTENDS TO PENN’S LANDING PARK.
2ND STREET STATION (MFL)
TAMANEND SQUARE
PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
LOWER LOADING ZONE (SEPTA BUS)
UPPER LOADING ZONE (SEPTA BUS + VEHICLE)
SERVICE SPACE
FOOD HALL
PUBLIC PATIO
DELAWARE RIVER TRAIL (BIKE + SIDEWALK)
HOTEL LOBBY
APARTMENTS + TOWNHOUSES
FERRY OVERLOOK
FERRY DOCK (RIVERLINK)
OPEN PLAZA
LANDMARK RESTAURANT
WATERFRONT PROMENADE
PARKING GARAGE ACCESS
PARK CAFE
PARK PAVILION
THE INITIAL MASTERPLAN WAS ORGANIZED TO FOLLOW THE EXISTING SITE CONDITIONS AT PENN’S LANDING. THE GOAL WITH THIS PLAN WAS TO HAVE A MULTI-STORY TERMINAL ALONG COLUMBUS BLVD WITH A PEDESTRAIN BRIDGE LINKING THE TERMINAL TO 2ND STREET STATION.
AT THE FALL DESIGN REVIEW, THIS PLAN FACED SIGNIFICANT CRITICISM DUE TO THE PRACTICAL NATURE OF THE DEVELOPMENT WITH COMMENTARY HIGHLIGHTING THE TERMINAL’S LACK OF A CONNECTION TO THE CITY, PENN’S LANDING PARK, AND DELAWARE RIVER. FURTHER DISCUSSION LED TO CONSIDERING CAPPING PART OF COLUMBUS BLVD OR EVEN EXTENDING THE CAP OVER I-95.
I INITIALLY OPPOSED EXTENDING A CAP OVER I-95 DUE TO THE CHALLENGE OF RESOLVING INTERCITY BUS ACCESS TO THE TERMINAL. HOWEVER, THE CAP SOON BECAME CRITICAL TO THE PROJECT AS I PLANNED TO INTEGRATE AN EXISTING ONRAMP WITH THE INTERCITY BUS DECK.
TO RESOLVE THE TERMINAL’S INSUFFICIENT CONNECTION WITH THE SITE CONTEXT, I DECIDED TO RELOCATE THE STRUCTURE TO THE NORTH END OF THE SITE. NOW THE TERMINAL IS CENTERED ON MARKET STREET AND CAN SERVE AS A LANDMARK AT THE END OF PHILADELPHIA’S PRIMARY TRANSIT AXIS. IN ADDITION, THIS RELOCATION BRINGS THE TERMINAL CLOSER TO 2ND STREET STATION WHICH NEGATES THE NEED FOR A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE.
FALL QUARTER MASTERPLAN PARTI WINTER QUARTER MASTERPLAN PARTI
AXIAL ARRANGEMENT OF PRIMARY PROGRAM ELEMENTS TO MAXIMIZE VIEWS BEYOND TERMINAL
COLUMBUS
PRIMARY PROGRAM IS STACKED ABOVE THE BUS DECK WITH CRITICAL SERVICE PROGRAM AT GRADE
ORGANIZING PROGRAM WITH PARTI DIAGRAMS
MARKETFRANKFORDLINE
TERMINAL APPROACH HIGHLIGHTING AXIS WITH MARKET STREET
ITERATION 01
ITERATION 02
ITERATION 03
LONG SPAN TRUSS DEVELOPMENT
THE FIRST ITERATION OF THE WEST ELEVATION FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING A RHYTHM OF VENTS ON EITHER SIDE OF A LARGE MEDIA FACADE WITH A REVOLVING DOOR BELOW. WHILE THE MINIMALISM WAS SUCCESSFUL, THE FORM OF THE LONG SPAN TRUSSES ON THE INTERIOR DID NOT RELATE TO THE EXTERIOR. THE SECOND INTERATION KEPT THE CLERESTORY BUT EXPLORED CURVING THE TOP TRUSS CHORD WITH THE ROOF. THIS DESIGN WAS WELLRECEIVED AT THE WINTER QUARTER REVIEW. THE FINAL DESIGN INTEGRATED THE CURVE OF THE GRIDSHELL WITH THE CURVE OF THE CANOPY.
THE EXISTING PENN'S LANDING SIGN IS REENVISIONED AS A LARGE SUPERGRAPHIC THAT FOLLOWS THE CURVATURE OF THE CANOPY AND MAIN TERMINAL ROOF BEYOND. AS THE TERMINAL IS CENTERED WITH MARKET STREET, THE SUPERGRAPHIC SERVES AS A WAYFINDING TOOL FOR INDIVIDUALS WALKING TOWARDS THE DELAWARE WATERFRONT
THE PRIMARY DESIGN FEATURES ARE ACCENTUATED WITH THE COLOR BLUE TO PROVIDE A NECESSARY CONTRAST WITH THE ORANGE INTERIOR TRUSSES AND EXTERIOR METAL CLADDING. 4:00 6/15 70° SAT BUS
MEDIA FACADE
IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID ADDING A LARGE BLACK SCREEN TO THE FACE OF THE BUILDING, THE MEDIA FACADE IS DESIGNED AS LED SCREENS SET WITHIN A SERIES OF GLASS PANELS. THIS ALLOWS THE SCREEN TO FUNCTION AS A DESIGN ELEMENT THAT RELATES TO THE GRAND HALL'S CURTAIN WALL SYSTEM. THE DIAGRAM TO THE LEFT HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT THE SCREENS COULD PROJECT TO VISITORS ON THEIR APPROACH TO THE TERMINAL SUCH AS ANALOG AND DIGITAL TIME, THE DATE, OR THE TEMPERATURE.
ALUMINUM R AINSCREEN ANODIZED ALUMINUM
DESIGNING THE TERMINAL
THE SOUTH ELEVATION REFLECTS THE AXIAL ARRANGEMENT OF PRIMARY PROGRAM ELEMENTS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE RHYTHM ACHIEVED WITH THE GRIDSHELL ROOFS AND BUS DECK VENTILATION SYSTEM. THE OPEN OFFICE PROGRAM RESTS LIGHTLY ABOVE THE CENTRAL SERVICE BLOCK
PROVIDING A NECCESSARY BREAK BETWEEN THE LONG SPAN GRAND HALL AND FOOD HALL. THE CONTINUOUS CURVED ROOF BRINGS THE SERIES OF PROGRAM ELEMENTS TOGETHER AS IT EXTENDS ALONG THE ENTIRE TERMINAL. STEPPING DOWN TO THE WATERFRONT, TINTED GLASS PANELS AND
A SKELETAL ALUMINUM FRAME SEPARATE THE BUS DECK FROM THE REST OF THE FACADE WITHOUT TAKING AWAY FROM THE ARCHITECTURAL GESTURES ON THE THIRD FLOOR.
SOLARGLA Z INGPANELS
EXPLORING THE MATERIALS THAT DEFINE THE SOUTH
ALUMINUM R AINSCREEN
GRIDSH E LL ROOF
LONGSPAN H SSTRUSSE S
VIEW FROM THE DELAWARE RIVER SHOWCASING GLASS BUS DECK AND BUILDING FORM
STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS
THE GRAND HALL AND FOOD HALL USE A LONG SPAN HSS STEEL TRUSS SYSTEM THAT IS COMPLEMENTED WITH A GRIDSHELL GLASS ROOF. THE REMAINDER OF THE BUILDING USES TYPICAL STEEL BEAMS, GIRDERS, AND COLUMNS ON A 30 FT BY 50 FT GRID. THE FLOOR SYSTEMS INCLUDE CONCRETE ON METAL DECKING AT THE THIRD FLOOR AND OFFICES, HOLLOWCORE PLANKS AT THE BUS DECK, AND A CONCRETE SLAB ON GRADE AT THE GROUND FLOOR. THIS IS ALL DISTRIBUTED BY THE PILE CAP FOUNDATION SYSTEM AT THE PIER LEVEL.
BUILDING SYSTEMS
THE MOST PROMINENT BUILDING SYSTEM IS THE BUS DECK'S MECHANICAL VENTILATION SYSTEM WHICH IS EXPRESSED ON THE FACADE AS LARGE VENTS. IN ADDITION, THE DEEP EAVES AND PENT ROOF PROVIDE NECESSARY SHADING FROM THE SUMMER SUN. THE TERMINAL USES A HYDRONIC RADIANT HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM WITH A DEDICATED OUTDOOR AIR SYSTEM (DOAS) TO EFFICIENTLY MANAGE VENTILATION AND CONDENSATION. A LARGE SOLAR ARRAY SUPPLIES 20% OF THE BUILDING'S ENERGY NEEDS AND A CISTERN STORES RAINWATER FOR THE BUILDINGS GREYWATER NEEDS. WHILE THE GRAND SPACE IS NATURALLY LIGHT THROUGH THE GRIDSHELL ROOF, THE LOWER FLOORS UTILIZE LED RECESSED LIGHTING.
APPROACH FROM NORTH PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE LINKING COLUMBUS BLVD TO 2ND STREET STATION
PARTIAL SOUTH ELEVATION
SOLAR ARRAY
OFFICE DORMER WITH VERTICAL ALUMINUM RAINSCREEN BEYOND
GRIDSHELL ROOF WITH SOLAR GLAZING AND ALUMINUM FRAME
BUS DECK VENTILATION SYSTEM
STEEL PURLINS SUPPORTING ALUMINUM PANEL ROOFING SYSTEM
CANTILEVERED STEEL FRAMING
CONTINUOUS ALUMINUM SOFFIT
SCREEN TO CONCEAL DOAS DUCT ABOVE
TRIPLE GLAZED CURTAIN WALL
18” DIAMETER HSS COLUMN WITH TAPER ROUND HSS LONG SPAN STEEL TRUSS
TYPICAL ALUMINUM RAINSCREEN
TYPICAL STEEL FRAMING
CONCRETE ON METAL DECK OVER W24 STEEL BEAMS AND GIRDERS
SUSPENDED ALUMINUM PANEL CEILING
TINTED GLASS PANEL SYSTEM WITH ANGLED ALUMINUM FRAME
TYPICAL ALUMINUM RAINSCREEN
ALUMINUM PANEL PENT ROOF
12” HOLLOW CORE PLANK WITH 4” CONCRETE TOPPING
W27 STEEL BEAMS AND GIRDERS
CONCRETE SLAB ON GRADE
PILE CAP FOUNDATION BEYOND
TYPICAL WALL SECTION
DETAILING THE TYPICAL TERMINAL ASSEMBLY 0 5 20 10
THE INTERIOR EXPERIENCE
(1) VIBRANT ORANGE TRUSSES SPAN THE LIGHT FILLED GRAND HALL AS VISITORS ARE WELCOMED TO THE TERMINAL WITH A LARGE SUPERGRAPHIC. A CENTRAL GRAND STAIR PROVIDES DIRECT ACCESS TO THE BUS DECK WHILE LARGE CASED OPENINGS FLANKING THE ELEVATORS PULL USERS THROUGH THE SERVICE SPACES TO THE FOOD HALL.
(2) AT THE BUS DECK LEVEL BELOW, VISITORS ARE ABLE TO BOARD INTERCITY BUSES WHICH CIRCULATE AROUND AN INTERIOR WAITING AREA. DESIGNED FOR EFFICIENCY, THE BUSES PULL INTO
SAWTOOTH BUS BAYS COMPLETE WITH LARE SIGNAGE PROVIDING NECESSARY DESTINATION INFORMATION.
(3) THE BUS DECK WAITING AREA HAS SEATING AND TICKET KIOSKS LOCATED ALONG THE CURTAIN WALL WITH A CENTRAL CUSTOMER SERVICE COUNTER.
(4) THE GROUND FLOOR INCLUDES A WAITING AREA FOR THE RIVERLINK FERRIES WITH DIRECT ACCESS TO THE PIER OUTSIDE. ESCALATORS AND ELEVATORS PROVIDE CONNECTIONS UP TO THE BUS DECK AND FOOD HALL.
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PROJECT REFLECTIONS
LOOKING BACK ON THE PAST YEAR, I AM INCREDIBLY SUPRISED WITH WHERE THE PROJECT LANDED. WHILE MY INITIAL DESIRE WAS TO DESIGN A TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT ALONG A REGIONAL RAIL LINE, I AM GRATEFUL FOR SHIFTING TO A MUCH MORE TIMELY ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN NEGLECTED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
THROUGH THE FALL AND WINTER QUARTERS, MY ADVISOR AND JURORS CONTINOUSLY PUSHED ME TO THINK BEYOND THE EXISTING SITE CONDITIONS AND NEEDS OF A TYPICAL BUS TERMINAL. THIS LED TO EXTENDING THE CAP OVER I-95 AND DESIGNING A STRUCTURE THAT WOULD SERVE ITS PURPOSE AS A BUS TERMINAL BUT ALSO AS A LANDMARK FOR THE CITY. THE SCALE OF THE MASTERPLAN AND TERMINAL WERE CHALLENGING TO MANAGE DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY OF INTEGRATING SEVERAL PUBLIC TRANSIT MODES AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT INTO AN URBAN SITE.
THE FINAL DESIGN WAS WELL-RECEIVED AT THE SPRING QUARTER REVIEW WITH FEEDBACK FOCUSING ON THE CLARITY OF THE MASTERPLAN, THE ARCHITECTURAL GESTURES MADE WITH THE TERMINAL DESIGN, AND THE GENERAL PRESENTATION OF THE PROJECT. BY RESOLVING THE MAJOR CRITICISMS FROM PREVIOUS REVIEWS, THE JURY FELT THAT THE FINAL DESIGN SUCCESSFULLY ADDRESSED ALL CIRCULATION NEEDS WHILE ACCOMMODATING ALL POTENTIAL SITE USERS.
FOCUSING ON RESOLVING PHILADELPHIA’S LACK OF INTERCITY BUS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR MY SENIOR PROJECT WAS A REWARDING EXPERIENCE AND I AM BEYOND GRATEFUL TO MY ADVISOR AND THE JURORS WHO SUPPORTED ME THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.