05. CAMPUS RAILWAY MONUMENT

Location: Iowa State University Campus, Ames, IA

Fall 2016, studio project

Iowa State University

Instructor: Bosuk Hur

Individual project

Traveling across Ames was not always as easy as jumping on a bus. The first students of Iowa State University, commuting the few miles between the city of Ames and campus was a struggle. In 1891, the railway transport system known as Dinkey Station was constructed to connect the campus to the city. After more than 60 years of operation, the railway transport system was a major landmark in the institution. In 1907, the steam railway was replaced with an electric streetcar and the campus destination was moved further north to its present location. Therefore, the railway monument was designed in memory of the missing railway track. In the design, water as a fluid factor demonstrates the movement of the train. Students follow the water trace on the original route to the final destination, where was the terminal before. Through the feel of visual, auditory and tactile experience with water and the surrounded environment, the history on campus will be reshaped.