The evergreen line is a lengthy expansion of the Metro Vancouver Skytrain Rapid Transit System’s Millennium Line. This 11 km long line was acquired using a P3 development model. The project’s goal was to draw attention to the transformative opportunities it can provide the local community. Lincoln and Burquitlam are the two stations on the line that Perkins and Will designed. This design looks for ways to add high design through understated yet tasteful touches, enhancing the overall aesthetic quality and saving money and time to guarantee the project’s success.
Design
VIA developed and delivered procurement drawings for the design-build contract for the Evergreen Line in collaboration with the CH2M engineering team. The design team developed reference designs that were unique to each station and the surrounding community by consulting with TransLink, the Ministry of Transportation in British Columbia, and the cities of Burnaby, Port Moody, and Coquitlam in order to garner grassroots support. In order to do this, every station was approved by the local government, the people who live there, and the requirements for the transportation system. Additionally, VIA created transit plazas, incorporated public art, hardscapes next to landscaping, easy and pleasant passenger drop-off spaces, and other facilities for travellers including bike racks and lockers. (Dagostini, 2017)
Two of the seven-stop line’s stations, Lincoln and Burquitlam, were designed by Perkins+Will. The Evergreen stations are an expansion and development of the transit station design history of Perkins+Will‘s Vancouver office. These principles include simplicity of form, restraint in palette, and clear and readable execution. The stations are unified by shared roof features, glass, and structural elements, which allows for a high-quality, beautiful, and cost-effective station design that puts the experience of the riders first. (Dagostini, 2017)
Materials
The Evergreen stations use the wood’s warmth and expressiveness, which has grown to be recognized as a distinctive feature of the SkyTrain stations in the area. The structural roof deck is built from Douglas fir glu-lam planks, which enable off-site prefabrication to save costs and increase quality. Along the platform’s length, graceful moment frames support wood ceiling panels and wind screens, while tall, thin steel columns divide waiting and circulation areas. In addition to offering weather protection, these characteristic roofs make the stations easily identifiable as Evergreen Line locations. (ArchDaily, 2017)
The use of wood provided Vancouver‘s transit system with much more than just a striking personality. Owing to its special qualities, the material worked well with a modular building strategy, enabling parts to be constructed off-site, cutting down on construction time and therefore saving money on the overall project. The first-of-its-kind modular wood roof features at Brentwood (arched glulam beams) and Gilmore (bent timber-strand panels) stations on the Millennium Line established the precedent for Perkins&Will’s systems-thinking approach to public transportation infrastructure.
Wood also makes it possible to operate and maintain transit systems more affordably. Wooden components that are modular are affordable and simple to replace. Furthermore, when integrated and kept appropriately, wood’s endurance greatly helps to sustain operating budgets over the life of a facility (ArchDaily, 2017).
For instance, the Canada Line’s modular roof system, designed by Perkins & Will and Fast + Epp, was constructed using common hardware store-purchased wooden sizes. All that had to be done was flip these beams of timber and place them inside a curved steel frame. The components’ easy access and affordable replacement are made possible by the material and production technique chosen, which also adds to the station’s exquisite look.
Another important component of any active public venue is durable materials. The wood structural roof parts of Brentwood and Gilmore stations still have the same wonderful appearance as they had when the facilities first opened to the public more than 17 years ago. According to TransLink, the facility’s owner and operator, they have not spent a single dollar on maintenance or replacement of any wood component of the roof systems in that same period. (ArchDaily, 2017)
Sustainability
Perkins and Will’s Evergreen Line stations are great examples of sustainability; they incorporate a number of elements that put the welfare of the community and the environment first. A pillar of energy efficiency is the use of modern heating, cooling, and lighting equipment in stations to reduce energy usage. In addition to lowering the need for artificial lighting and ventilation, natural ventilation and lots of daylighting also make the space more comfortable and welcoming for passengers. (ArchDaily, 2017)
These stations include locally available materials to reduce transportation emissions, as well as sustainable materials that have been carefully chosen for their minimal environmental effect. Examples of these materials include recycled steel and concrete. In addition to decreasing stormwater runoff and lessening the impacts of urban heat islands, green roofs and rainwater management systems also provide renewable energy that powers station facilities.
Another important area of concentration is accessibility, with features that promote walking, bicycling, and public transportation use. Bicycle racks, pedestrian-friendly access, and links to neighbouring communities encourage environmentally friendly transit options and lessen dependence on automobiles.
Additionally, these stations place a high priority on recycling and garbage management, offering facilities and conspicuous signage to incentivize drivers to dispose of waste appropriately. By promoting environmental awareness and motivating passengers to take part in building a more sustainable future, community involvement and education programs further strengthen sustainability efforts. Perkins and Will have designed transit stations that are not only effective hubs for transportation but also shining examples of sustainability in their local communities thanks to their creative design techniques. (Dagostini, 2017)
References:
ArchDaily. (2017, January 24). Evergreen Line Stations / Perkins+Will. ArchDaily. Retrieved May 1, 2024, from https://www.archdaily.com/804019/evergreen-line-stations-perkins-plus-will?ad_medium=gallery
Dagostini, E. (2017, November 9). Why Wood? A Look at Vancouver’s Skytrain Stations. Perkinsandwill. Retrieved May 1, 2024, from https://perkinswill.com/news/why-wood-a-look-at-vancouvers-skytrain-stations/
List of Images
Evergreen Line Station _© Andrew Latreille
Design of Evergreen Line Station _© Andrew Latreille
Materiality of Evergreen Line Station _© Andrew Latreille
