Design a sustainable metro bus transit center.

Project Title: Metro Bus Transit Center

Metro Bus Transit Center Description

Have you ever marveled at the architecture and the sheer mountain of details that go into a massive community building such as a sports arena, shopping mall, or transit center? Maybe you’ve always just taken it for granted. But the next time you find yourself in one of these buildings, take a moment to look around and notice all of the features and details: the retail spaces, passenger loading docks, benches, public restrooms, ticket counters, windows, doors, sidewalks, landscaping, canopies, trash receptacles, bike racks, and so on. Take everything in and then imagine what it would be like to actually sit down and design a similar building. There are so many issues to consider; it makes your head spin, doesn’t it? But who knows, with a little vision and a touch of ambition, you might come up with a revolutionary design!

In a series of videos, Mark Campbell, Senior Architect at Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB), an international architectural and engineering firm, takes you through the full creative process of designing a metro bus transit center. You begin by understanding the goals and objectives of your client, the transit authority. You consider the passenger: Who are they? How will they use the transit center? Where are they coming from and traveling to? And consider the public or nontransit user, who may just be interested in sitting on a bench to people-watch or who may stop by to purchase a hotdog from a favorite vendor. You go on to consider every possible aspect and angle of the transit center: location, layout and traffic patterns, vehicular and pedestrian circulation, the geography and topography of the area, climate, solar orientation, prevailing winds, possible bus routes, and on and on. You even hold a series of design workshops to brainstorm with key stakeholders. You leave no stone unturned. It’s an enormous undertaking—but ultimately rewarding for all involved in the process and for the happy travelers.

Envision a site in your city or in an imaginary city on a distant planet and design a transit center following the creative problem-solving and design process presented by Mark in these videos. Sketch some drawings and use digital imaging to model a 3D prototype of your design. Present your final design to your city’s Transportation Department or pop it into your portfolio to take to your favorite animation studio. Dream big!