A cantilevered steel frame highlights the intersection
between movement down to the underground station, up to the new viewing
platform, and across the site’s paths. A revival of the old depot, the new roof typology
establishes a station that recalls the site’s history. A major hub during the
day, Depot comes alive at night, transforming into a glowing beacon marking the
most prominent station on the light rail path. Bull reincarnates the historic Corcoran Street axis as a
pedestrian pathway that moves through the headhouse’s frame. The station roof
reaches out to welcome visitors, shelter passengers, and define space, all in
sly reference to the horns of Durham’s mascot, the bull. Legacy
reinterprets the historic typology of the train station, capitalizing on the
vertical presence of the traditional clock tower and horizontal expanse of the
traditional platform. In its reimagined state, the clock tower creates a civic
marker within public hardscape shaped by plazas, green space, and water
features. Full
Frame infuses the typical headhouse program with a fun-loving social atmosphere
by using an outdoor amphitheater to celebrate gathering, connect multiple
levels, and bring light into the underground station. Taking its name from one
of the many festivals that Durham is known for, the outdoor theater serves as a
public sibling to the adjacent Durham Performing Arts Center and puts on
display people promenading through the activity zone.