DiscoverDesign.org is produced by the

This CAF Newhouse 2011 project (#365) was awarded an Honorable Mention prize

By fmoreno1994 | M Design a bus shelter near your school

Wondering about this bus shelter design problem? >>

Show Hide

Although bus riders may have unique needs in the 21st century, the basic design of the structure has remained the same for several decades. Should bus shelters be the same in all neighborhoods around the city? A bus shelter is a structure that we may take for granted, but it also has the potential to make our daily lives easier while also significantly impacting the way our streets look.

The Problem
The major problems with the bus stop here at Lane Tech on the corner of Addison and Western are that it is too small. This bus shelter is used by hundreds even thousands of students every day and it becomes too over crowded. It is its most overcrowded when the weather is bad such as a rainy or snowy day people will try to escape the bad weather by bunching up in the bus stop. The hot weather is also a problem as the more people are bunched up the hotter it feels. With all the students at this one stop it also takes too much time in order to actually get on the bus and then the bus is over crowded. I also believe this bus stop need lighting and it definitely need to be greener.

The Solution
In order to solve the problems my design will be a lot longer and wider so that more people are able to fit in this bus stop and it will reduce crowding. The space is obviously there. This bus shelter will also use a new innovative way to reduce crowding in the actual bus and reduce the boarding time by having machines where you can prepay. Then I think this shelter should have heaters in the winter and air conditioning in the summer and all this will be powered by solar panels which will also provide lighting so that it is safe to be at the bus shelter at night. There will also be more recycling trash cans.

Comments

Francisco, que paso? You are way behind time to stop messing around & get down to business!

By jberlanga, Educator at 12:59 pm, 09 May 2011

im cool as hell

By fmoreno1994, Student at 02:21 pm, 13 May 2011

what does that mean?

By ayazgen1, Student at 04:28 pm, 15 May 2011

Francisco you are not that cool, you are behind. Final design solution? Coming? Take a look at "Cool" Emily's project. Midnight 5-18-11.

By jberlanga, Educator at 09:07 pm, 17 May 2011

Thanks for entering the 2011 CAF Newhouse Architecture Competition! Until the judges have completed evaluating all student projects, you are temporarily blocked from accessing your account or working on this project. Please check back sometime after May 26 for the competition results. Good luck!

By jmasengarb, Architect at 07:53 pm, 19 May 2011

Great project - really well done and the final renderings are very comprehensive. You have obviously provided much more than just a 'shelter' but the argument is the particular need adjacent to your school requires an actual building. Well done.

By jcliggott, Architect at 01:44 pm, 24 May 2011

You have obviously expanded the shelter to be far more than just a bus shelter. You have taken many larger factors into account with your investigation (site planning issues, efficiency of CTA bus loading, etc.), and have produced a project that tries to address these complex issues. Very ambitious effort, and one that raises some interesting talking points about the needs of this location versus other locations, as well as identifying some key elements that may be implemented in other shelter locations to ease ridership concerns and improve the public transit experience. Great job!

By ScottDelano, Architect at 11:47 pm, 24 May 2011

You've provided an elegant and comprehensive solution to a complex design problem. Very site specific. Perhaps this design could be scalable for use at other schools with similar issues. Well done.

By amelone, Architect at 09:45 am, 26 May 2011

Congratulations!  Your project has been awarded an Honorable Mention by the 2011 Newhouse Architecture Competition jury yesterday.  To celebrate your awesome work, we’re including this project as a ‘Featured Student Project’ on the website.  It will now appear in the sidebar of the Student Gallery and on the homepage in the rotating queue. 
.
Share this link to your project with your friends on your Facebook page! 
.
Don’t forget to bring your family with you to the awards ceremony and exhibition opening on the evening of Thursday, June 2. (Details will follow in an email.)  You can also visit the Robert Morris University Gallery between now and June 11 to see your project on display along with all the student projects.  Congrats again!

By jmasengarb, Architect at 04:18 pm, 27 May 2011

Curious about the Collect Info step of this bus shelter design problem? >>

Show Hide

Gather more information about existing types of bus shelters in Chicago and in different cities around the world.  Post photos of what you've found in your project account.  Write a few sentences about the information you've collected and the research you've done.  Explain what you've learned in the articles or through interviews with bus riders.

Think About

  • What are the basic functions and design elements of any bus shelter?
  • How long do you typically wait at the bus stop?
  • What are some things that you really like about your city's current bus shelters?
  • What are some things that you hate about your city's current bus shelters?
  • What materials are these shelters made from?

 Try This

  • Make a list of all the different features on an existing Chicago bus shelter.  Explain what you’ve learned and post information on your project account.
  • Take photographs of the bus shelter near to your school.  Post a few images to your student account.    
  • Take measurements of the existing bus shelter.
  • Use Flickr and Google Images to search "bus shelter" Research different types of bus stops and shelters in different cities around the world.
  • Use Google Maps to view and print out an aerial photograph of an existing bus shelter near your school.  How far away is the shelter from the street corner?  How far away is the shelter from the entrance to your school?
  • Interview several of your friends and classmates about what they like or hate about the bus shelter near your school.  Post this information on your project account.
  • Check out this Chicago Tribune article from architecture critic Blair Kamin about the 2003 design of Chicago's bus shelters.

fmoreno1994's work for the Collect Information step:

Summary
In the area i have chosen to put my bus shelter provides a lot of space in order to put a substantially large bus shelter.

Curious about the Brainstorm Ideas step of this bus shelter design project? >>

Show Hide

Make some early decisions about the location, size, features, and materials for your bus shelter. Draw a hand sketch to help you puzzle through new ideas.

Try This

  • Identify a location for your new bus shelter near your school.  Mark this location on a map and post the image on your project account.
  • Based on what you learned in the Collect Information step above, make a list of all the features you'd like to have in your new bus shelter design.  Post your ideas on your project account.
  • Using a tape measure and some masking tape, mark out the basic overall footprint that makes sense for your bus shelter.  How does this compare with the size of an existing bus shelter in your city?  Explain your thinking in the description of your project.
  • Draw several quick sketches to get your early ideas down on paper.  Either take a photo or scan and then upload your sketches to your project account.  These aren't your final ideas. 
  • Consider what materials the shelter will be made from?  What materials will be durable against the weather and the riders who wait there?

 

fmoreno1994's work for the Brainstorm Ideas step:

Summary
Some ideas to include: -Automatic door on the outside that open automatic when bus arrives -extended seating -Heating and Air Conditioning -Use of new technology -use of green technology

Curious about the Develop Solutions step of this bus shelter design project? >>

Show Hide

Now's the time to take what you've learned from the steps above to develop your own solution for a new bus shelter.

Try to include

  • One site plan
  • One floor plan
  • At least two elevation or perspective views

Try This

You may use any method you'd like to show your design (pencil, colored pencil, collage, physical models, or digital rendering software).  Here are a few suggestions for drawings and models of your bus shelter:

  • Use cardboard or cardstock to build a rough physical study model or prototype of your bus shelter. You can't really understand the shape of the shelter until you make a quick study model.  Don't worry about making a fancy finished model at this time. Instead, use cardstock, scissors, and tape to quickly create the large 3D form. See how it looks. Break off different sections, add new pieces, and try new ideas. Take photos of your model and upload them to your project account.
  • Sketch or use software such as Google SketchUp, AutoCAD, or Revit to get the ideas out of your head to share with others.

fmoreno1994's work for the Develop Solutions step:

Summary
I have been able to include many of my features so far such as extended seating, sliding doors, better pay machines, and the indoor compartment which is the main point to my design, it is a bit smalle

Curious about the Final step of this bus shelter design problem? >>

Show Hide

As your ideas change, be sure to explain your thinking and let others know about the new work you have posted to your account. Go back to the virtual drawing board and revise your project based on the feedback of others.

fmoreno1994's work for the Final Design step:

Summary
I think I was trully able to include all the features i wanted.