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Metro Chooses Six Teams to Submit Master Plan Visions for Union Station

By Eric Richardson
Published: Wednesday, November 09, 2011, at 10:39AM
Union Station Master Plan Collage

Collage of projects by firms from the six teams chosen to submit concepts for a Union Station Master Plan.



DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Six teams with wide-ranging international experience have been chosen to submit visions for the future development of Union Station. Metro purchased the 1939 station and 38 acres of land around it earlier this year for $75 million.

The master plan study will include commercial development opportunities, the station's physical capacity to meet transit demands while remaining a historic landmark and connectivity to La Plaza, Olvera Street and Little Tokyo. The Union Station site was entitled for six million square feet of development rights under the Alameda District Specific Plan.

Chosen to continue are: (New York) and (Netherlands); (Los Angeles) and (New York); and (London); (Santa Monica); (Seattle) and (Germany); and (New York) and (Pasadena).

The six teams, who must still be formally approved by Metro's board, were chosen by staff from 22 responses to a request for interest and qualifications issued in August. This first cut of the project included no specific ideas for the station, but instead focused on the experience of the project team, their management plan and their grasp of the work to be done.

As part of the next phase, the Request for Proposals, each team will be expected to produce one conceptual idea board that will become property of Metro. The process appears similar to that taken by AEG, which unveiled three design concepts for its proposed NFL stadium and events center before eventually choosing Gensler to move forward on the project.

Metro hopes to receive the RFP responses in February 2012.

Staff Report on Union Station Master Plan RFP

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User_32

on November 09, 2011, at 11:22AM – #1

I have mixed feelings about making changes to Union Station.

On the one hand, it is a historic landmark - a monument to rail transit, with links to Metro Rail, Amtrak and Metrolink.

On the other hand, there are things which could be improved. The new Famima is a definite improvement. Improvements to the area surrounding the main terminal area could help. Better access to the Olvera Street area, for example.

I'm not sure much more needs to be added to the historic structure itself.


Eric Richardson () on November 09, 2011, at 12:11PM – #2

I think it's interesting to look at the work these firms have done elsewhere on historic rail stations (often in Germany, for whatever reason). I think there's some really interesting work that has been done in blending old and new, both for expansion reasons (to accomodate high speed rail, for instance) and to provide for new development or new connectivity.


Joel Covarrubias on November 09, 2011, at 01:07PM – #3

The western doorstep of Union Station is an auto-centric, freeway-like design, which could easily be fixed to encourage connections to Olvera Street and Chinatown.

Currently, Los Angeles Street splits just west of Alameda into two one-way streets which enter/exit Union Station. The result is a landscaped median west of Alameda, and a tree-lined median east of Alameda leading to the front door of Union Station. These medians look nice, but are unnecessarily complicated and awkward for pedestians and motorists alike.

The solution is to reunify Los Angeles Street SOUTH of the current median.

Doing so would eliminate the unnecessary pedestrian crossings between Union Station and the tourist attractions west of Alameda.

The current median east of Alameda contains a walkway which doesn't directly lead anywhere. With this change, the walkway would lead directly from Union Station's front door to a crosswalk to the Olvera Street park.


Carter Rubin on November 09, 2011, at 07:14PM – #4

Just my personal, unofficial two cents about the design I'd like to see of new buildings:

I'm a big fan of the style of the Metropolitan Water District HQ that sits just south of Union Station. It's sort of a Deco revival, which works nicely with the Mission-Deco style of Union Station itself.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jshyun//sizes/l/in/photostream/

I'd like to see any new buildings closely embrace the style of Union Station and focus on that Deco and Mission theme, which IMHO are the two best architectural styles to be embraced in Los Angeles.

-Carter


David Murphy on November 10, 2011, at 01:54PM – #5

Awesome photos, Eric. To echo Steve Hymon's comment in The Sorce, good for you for staying on top of this.

We need to think big when it comes to Union Station.

Incredible potential to have a world class facility for Los Angeles.

Check out places like

. Bonus:


User_32

Steve White () on November 10, 2011, at 01:54PM – #6

Joel, I totally agree with you and (because I live in the immediate area) have spent a lot of time at Union Station and el Pueblo/Olvera St.

I'm one of the few people who has walked that median in front of Union Station. It is centered in front of the main entrance, there are some plaques and other memorials, plus greenery, etc along the walkway. It seems like it should be the primary pedestrian entrance, but it doesn't lead to anywhere!

Consolidating Los Angeles St so it's no longer split will allow pedestrians a "grander" walk from the station, across to el Pueblo. This would be especially key if any of the streetcar routes that "connect to Union Station" are chosen. These routes actually circle through el Pueblo.


William Crandell on November 11, 2011, at 07:18PM – #7

The North Hall: a city history mueum?

The ticketing area and the tunnel beyond - leading to the train platforms: this entire area, beyond the East Hall including the ramps and platforms needs to be completely taken out and something new put in - inspired by - but not imitating said halls. Have some sort of vast overhead scrim admitting as much weather as possible. No sealed glass ceiling (earthquakes).

Imagine walking on glass, seeing the Redline subway cars below, through a transparent floor. Look up and see your mode of transit, ride your escalator to board, Coast Starlight.

If the preservationists fight it, kick 'em in the b*lls and shove them out the door!


User_32

David Klappholz on November 12, 2011, at 03:37PM – #8

I've crossed from Union Station to Olvera St., without any trouble, hundreds of times; am not sure what's being suggested, or why, to "improve" the crossing.



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