AVENUE U

// This project presented a rare opportunity where there was no existing infrastructure on the site, allowing for the road network and pedestrian connections to be designed for the development and tailored to the existing neighborhood. The pedestrian connections were perhaps the most important in the project. Being in a transit-oriented development zone, we wanted to encourage the use of alternate forms of transit to the greatest extent possible which led us to studs the existing street network, access to the LRT station and connections to cycling infrastructure. The result is a series of connections to the existing streets that are subtle but celebrated in unique ways. The pedestrian environment at the level of grade has been designed to encourage social interaction, as all at grade suites feature terraces and entry points from the exterior. In front of the building is a raised ‘woonerf’ style access that is effectively an multi-use pathway which allows for a single lane of one-way vehicle traffic for visitors and drop offs and provides parallel parking spaces that are fully integrated into the design. In between the two buildings is a hardscaped plaza that will become a central amenity area that features planting, raised beds that incorporate seating and unique bench that takes cues from the train tracks behind the site. The paving for the plaza also features train tracks imbedded into the surface.

Ultimately this project is about responding to its site and confronting the dilemma of what should be done when you aren’t given the luxury of having existing infrastructure to respond to. Instead of responding to an issue, it is a clean slate that provides the opportunity to explore what could be possible.