burbank high speed rail station
Adapting to the holistic approach of the San Francisco Transbay Terminal, the Burbank High Speed Rail Station also seeks to act as a central node that ties all forces from its location. Adjacent to the on and off ramps of the I-5 freeway, the station immediately calls for traffic attention. Bus, taxi, and car circulation are all taken into consideration as part of the circulation master plan. Since the station is situated between north and south of San Fernando Blvd, the north side of the station is designated for all transportation systems while the south side of the station houses trains and platforms.
In addition to controlling the traffic flow of the station, landscape serves as a datum for entering and exiting the train station; it directs pedestrians and designates public spaces such as the retail strip under the platforms and the public park on the roof. The goal is to utilize landscape as a generator to unite the city and the train station, ultimately transforming the station into a central park for the city to enjoy.
Two main structural systems constitute the train station: light columns and folding concrete beams. Multiple light columns support the High Speed Rail (HSR) and Metrolink platforms, and the folding concrete beams support the loads from the roofs. Mimicking the gesture of the architecture, the concrete pre-cast columns seem to peel off the roof providing lateral support for the vertical and horizontal loads imposed by the rooftop landscape and pedestrian activities. Water drainage is implemented into these folding concrete beams; the space between two folded beams form a natural v-shaped crevice that serves as collector for water.
