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Final design unveiled for Transbay Transit Center in San Francisco
Pelli Clarke Pelli presented the final design for the Transbay Transit Center on Thursday to the Transbay Joint Powers Authority Board (TJPA) in San Francisco, Calif. The glass-and- steel complex, which will serve 12 transit systems including the future California High Speed Rail, is noticeably minus its original iconic tower and includes new features as well.
One of those features is a 5.4-acre rooftop park with a 100-seat outdoor amphitheater for musical performances, space for evening film screenings, cafes and restaurants. The park will have 20 sub-environments including an amphitheater, a children's playground, public artworks and a lily pond, providing rich educational and recreational experiences to the public. A 1,000-foot long fountain shaped like a bus will automatically be activated when a bus passes underneath the park.
The first phase of the project, which is set to start construction in May 2011, is estimated to cost $1.6 billion. The second phase of the project, scheduled for completion later this decade, will provide rail access to the new Transit Center via an underground tunnel. The new Transit Center is scheduled to open in 2017.
“We are very proud of the Transit Center design. It is a visionary station that fully achieves our goals of architectural beauty, functionality and sustainability,” said Maria Ayerdi-Kaplan, executive director of the TJPA.
Sharon McHugh
US Correspondent
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