Beinfield Architecture PC

South Norwalk, Connecticut

The South Norwalk Railroad Station had earned a well-documented reputation as a dangerous and uninviting place. As a result, the existing station was underutilized, which in turn has burdened other stations along the line with a larger commuter population. Thus, the station was a distinct negative in the economic development of the city, hurting its ability to attract new business.

One of the strongest images of South Norwalk's environment is that of the railroad as it threads its way through the urban fabric. The design strength of the trestles as they cross over the Norwalk River, Washington Street, and Monroe Street cannot be ignored as contributing to the visual image of South Norwalk. In fact, they are visual assets that can be easily capitalized. The trestles are brought on to the station by means of diagonal cross bracing at each bay of the parking garage, and such cross bracing is executed in non-structural "tube metal." While remaining a non-structural element, the industrial aesthetic, complete with exposed bolts and bearing plates, is highly reinforced.

The heavy rusticated masonry piers and walls upon which the railroad trestles sit are equally important to South Norwalk's visual image. The heavy masonry exemplifies the industrial age of the railroad so prominent in South Norwalk. The base of the crossing at Monroe Street is typical of this work. On site, the long gently curving retaining wall that fronts State Street illustrates the aged sense of the masonry. This theme is introduced into the design concept via the lantern towers, which flank the entrance to the station.

The image of the monumental barrel vault alludes to the great train sheds of Europe, capturing the romance of travel by rail. The precedents are numerous. Perhaps the purest expression of the "barrel vault as terminal" in this country is Cincinnati Union Terminal in Ohio.

Centered on the tunnel under the tracks, the large scale of the arch creates a strong enough image to serve as the focal point for the complex. The design successfully renders the facility as a railroad station with an attached parking structure and not vice versa. The arch faces a plaza, which will likely be busy as a drop-off and pick-up point for commuters.

A five-level, 62' x 561' grid forms the central parking structure. The single bay configuration provides a clear, comprehensible, and open plan that provides the visibility required to minimize the opportunity for crime. The helix ramps at each end provide an efficient circulation system. Architecturally, the solid cylindrical ramps anchor the open structural expression of the parking structure.

Services
Architecture