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CTA Morgan Street Station

Ross Barney Architects

CTA Morgan Street Station
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Chicago Transit Authority Morgan Street Station

Location: Chicago, Illinois Collaborative Partners: Trans Systems Program: New elevated train station Status: Completed, 2012

A new-elevated station at the intersection of North Morgan and West Lake Streets presented a unique opportunity to define the geographic center and character of the Fulton Market District, a historically industrial area that has transformed into a multi-faceted neighborhood with emerging residential, commercial, and retail uses.

The same site played host to an elevated station from 1893 to 1948, at which time it was closed and demolished due to declining ridership. The Market is still identified by its sights, sounds, and smells, being comprised of wholesale and retail meat and produce vendors, but today, it is the rich combination of warehouses, industrial spaces, off- the-beaten-path restaurants, specialty food purveyors, loft conversions and boutique stores that are the essence of the neighborhood’s character. To reinforce this character, material selection for the project takes its cue from the industrial looking neighborhood—steel, glass, concrete, and polycarbonate; avoiding mimicry of brick warehouses nearby while equally presenting a tough contemporary urban feel.

The new stationhouses have been located at grade level at the corner of North Morgan and West Lake Streets in an effort to maximize station visibility and pedestrian access from the active Randolph Street corridor to the south. New trees, landscaping and artist- commissioned bicycle racks are located along Lake Street in an effort to  often the industrial character of the area while enhancing street presence. Wide, clear corners at the intersection improve visibility for both pedestrians and drivers, and state-of-the-art surveillance cameras have been installed to improve pedestrian and rider security.

Complicated federal land acquisition brought on strict site constraints for the new station, which would operate on a two-sided fare collection model, with two separate entrances for inbound and outbound trains. Between right-of- way constraints and existing driveway locations, two 18’x65’ sites were carved out on the north and south sides of the street for the new station houses. By moving fare-collection to street level, elevators could be placed within the fare zone at each station house and connect  irectly to both the platform and bridge levels, providing equal accessibility for handicapable passengers.

The two station houses also act as billboards for the CTA, providing visual navigation and identification. The perforated façade is composed of a pixilated image of the elevated tracks, superimposing the context onto the façade of the towers. The tallest elements are composed of a sheathed façade and exposed structural framework, paying homage to the gritty industrial heritage of the neighborhood while giving a nod to the brighter contemporary iteration of the Fulton Market District. The overall translucency of the station houses provides vibrancy both day and night.

Materials were chosen to permit visibility throughout the station, reinforcing the feeling of openness. In an effort to combat graffiti and vandalism, perforated stainless steel panels sandwich glazing, restricting the ability to etch while maintaining transparency. The platform canopies are constructed from translucent polycarbonate panels which provide weather protection for passengers, permit natural light to reach the platform, and with their low weight, allow for less canopy structure, thereby reducing overall cost. The lightweight nature of the panels also allows for easy replacement. The transfer bridge, elevator enclosures and grade level entries are comprised mostly of transparent glazing, and stair towers and guardrails are comprised of perforated stainless steel panels all in an effort to achieve this desired openness.

Sustainability was a project goal. The Chicago Department of Transportation envisioned that the station would become the first LEED certified transit station in the system. Unfortunately, due to the lack of a defined building envelope and less than 5% of the project area being conditioned space, the prerequisite requirements necessary for LEED certification were not met. However, sustainable strategies for the project were deployed to meet LEED Silver certification and concentrated primarily on materials and resources: steel and concrete are predominantly used— these each consist of high amounts of recycled content. Polycarbonate panels have both a high recycled content and are regionally produced, granite flooring was extracted from regional quarries, and glazing was regionally sourced. The project landscaping is drought tolerant and requires no irrigation. New bicycle racks encourage the use of alternative multimodal transportation. It is expected that the station will operate for 30 years without any major maintenance.

While emblematic of the neighborhood, the project also asserts itself as part of a larger context—the CTA’s rapid transit system and its relationship to the City of Chicago. Chicago’s Mayor, Rahm Emanuel, stated that “having world class infrastructure, such as the Morgan Street Station, is essential to our city’s goals of quality of life and economic opportunity for residents.” The location of the station with its sweeping views of the skyline, along with its form that provides a sense of enclosure for the elevated tracks, creates both a literal and metaphorical gateway to the Chicago Loop, and serves as a strong testament to the evolving modernity of Chicago’s mass transit system.

Ross Barney Architects

Ross Barney Architects is an architecture and urban design studio with offices in Chicago. Founded in 1981 by Carol Ross Barney, FAIA, Ross Barney Architects has been dedicated to designing public places and spaces. From community buildings to campus buildings for premier academic and research institutions, to groundbreaking transit stations that connect vibrant neighborhoods; the studio has produced distinctive structures that have become cultural icons. The studio strongly believes that architecture should capture a contemporary vision of today’s society, emphasizing that design excellence is a right, not a privilege. Ross Barney Architect’s work has been exhibited in Chicago, New York, Washington D.C. and San Francisco, and has received more than 60 major awards, including 30 AIA Chicago Awards, 4 National AIA awards, 2 AIA COTE Top Ten awards and the 1995 AIA Illinois Firm of the Year. Additionally, in 2005, founder Carol Ross Barney received the AIA’s Thomas Jefferson Award for Public Architecture.

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