The New San Francisco Transbay Transit Center
Written by Jennifer Heyns
The heart of San Francisco will soon be transformed. Starting this August, the new Transbay Transit Center will begin construction.
The design was created by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, a New Haven, Connecticut firm that also built the Reagan International Airport North Terminal. The new Transbay Transit Center was finally presented to the public mid-April, with plans to begin forming the center into reality near the end of the summer.
The practical use of this enormous undertaking will be to house 12 different transit systems and a future high-speed rail terminus. The building design incorporates several sustainable measures to decrease the carbon footprint of such a major hub. Included in the structure are systems for passive solar shading, high performance glazing, geothermal cooling and wind power.
Naturally, such an important structure located in the center of such a major city could not be just another typical building. The transit center is full of curves, shadows and intriguing designs. Drawing inspiration from swaying trees, Pelli Clarke Pelli encased the center in mostly curvilinear glass and intersecting steel beams that mirror the curves and angles of swaying, but sturdy arbors.
While definitely a convenient answer to the busy metro area’s transportation system, the design includes many bonus features that will have residents flocking to the site even if travel of any sort isn’t in their immediate plans. Atop the Transbay Transit Center will be a 5.4-acre green roof – family entertainment and an attraction all its own.
The rooftop destination will include natural open spaces, like a public park, playground, lily pond and amphitheatre, as well as other draws like cafes, restaurants and public artworks.
Completion of the project is scheduled for 2017. It’s likely that downtown San Francisco will be in a bit of disarray for much of the next six years, but hold on Bay Area folks, because when it’s done it will certainly be worth the wait.
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