Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA
The urban design process for the Westside Subway Extension, led by Torti Gallas and Partners, outlined over arching urban design principles and goals for the Purple Line and proposed a set of urban design strategies through a Station Planning and Design Toolkit (“Toolkit”) to inform the station location and station entrance selection process. The Metro Westside team presented the Toolkit to the public for inputduring a set of stakeholder workshops, Station Area Advisory Groups (“SAAG”). The SAAG Members along with city staff and city councilstaff in attendance helped the Metro design team refine design concepts and identifykey tools each station area. The Urban Design Concept Report, Station Planning and Design Toolkit, and feedback from the SAAG workshops help guide the station site plansdeveloped during preliminary engineering. The Metro Westside team used the report as a reference point to assure that the station plans meet the urban design goals andprinciples (i.e. providing good circulation, convenient multi-modal connections, durablematerials, attractive landscaping, helpful wayfinding signage, public art, etc).
Diagram of Westside Subway Extension, showing urban form typologies for seven proposed stations.
The guiding urban design principles for the new station areas are intended to help assure a level of design quality and continuity across the Purple Line, while still allowing for variety in design in order to differentiate the station areas in response to the unique characteristics and aesthetics of the adjacent neighborhoods. The urban design principles approach the station areas as more than transition spaces, but as vibrant places in themselves, reinforcing the concept that transit can strengthen neighborhood identity and contribute to placemaking:
The studies here look at four different station areas and their potential for joint development: Wilshire/La Brea (Miracle Mile); Wilshire/Fairfax (at LACMA); Wilshire/La Cienaga (near Cedars Sinai Hospital) and Wilshire/La Brea (an iconic Beverly Hills address, the actual station is imagined at Wilshire and Reeves). Depicted initially as simple plazas punctuated by a portal and canopy design that Metro had pre-selected, each station is then re-imagined with construction either alongside or atop depending on community aspirations.
The studies here look at four different station areas and their potential for joint development: Wilshire/La Brea (Miracle Mile); Wilshire/Fairfax (at LACMA); Wilshire/La Cienaga (near Cedars Sinai Hospital) and Wilshire/La Brea (an iconic Beverly Hills address, the actual station is imagined at Wilshire and Reeves). Depicted initially as simple plazas punctuated by a portal and canopy design that Metro had pre-selected, each station is then re-imagined with construction either alongside or atop depending on community aspirations.
Wilshire/La Brea Station.Aerial View of Station Plaza before joint development. looking towards NW corner of intersection with "Samsung Building" in the foreground. The Plaza area, may be welcoming, but without spatial enclosure is not a place to stay.
Wilshire/La Brea Station.Aerial View of Station Plaza after joint development. looking towards NW corner of intersection. The Plaza area, is now enclosed by a mixed use building that frames the space on two sides. A tower element at the Plaza along Wilshire marks the gateway to the "Miracle Mile" and also signal the presence of the plaza..
Wilshire/La Brea Station. View looking North at Wilshire and La Brea before joint development around station plaza. The plaza created here is pleasant, but clearly in need of spatial enclosure
Wilshire/La Brea Station.View looking north at Wilshire and La Brea after joint development around station plaza. The plaza created here is in response to community desires for a public open space at the station at this gateway to the historic "Miracle Mile."
Wilshire/La Brea Station.View looking west along Wilshire Boulevard at La Brea with Station Plaza serviing as the gateway tho the "Miracle Mile."
Wilshire/Fairfax Station Area. Existing view looking west along Wilshire Boulevard. The foreground building is an historic landmark so the selected portal area is just beyond this iconic structure.
Wilshire/Fairfax Station Area. Proposed view looking west along Wilshire Boulevard with Metro portal in a small plaza just beyond (further west) the historic coffee shop. New development is depicted further west of the station portal area. This photo simulation imagines an enhanced streetscape along Wilshire Boulevard.
Wilshire/LaCienaga Station Existing Condition. View looking northeast of existing one-story bank building at the proposed location of the Metro portal
Wilshire/LaCienaga Station. View looking northeast at the Station Plaza after removing existing building and creation of Station Plaza
. View looking northeast with joint development opportunity explored atop the proposed Metro portal.
Wilshire/Rodeo Station Existing Condition. View looking northeast of existing one-story bank building at the proposed location of the Metro portal
Wilshire/Rodeo Station. View looking south at the Station Plaza (Wilshire Blvd. at Reeves) after removing existing building and creation of Station Plaza
Wilshire/Rodeo Station. View looking south at the Station Plaza (Wilshire Blvd. at Reeves) with joint development above station portal area. The presence of a park directly south of this site renders the creation of a public space at this location redundant.
