A JUXTAPOSITION OF OLD AND NEW

Thoughts of the Midwest and Wichita, Kansas generally include images of the great American workhorse, the railroad. Yet this economic engine, which served such a vital role in shaping Wichita's history, threatens its future. The Burlington Northern and Union Pacific Railroad companies share the three mile Wichita Central Railroad Corridor that currently divides the east side of town from the Central Business District (CBDI. For over one hundred years this north-south corridor has served as the primary rail route to large industrial factories: the old Coleman camping fuel factory and grain silos that dominate the skyline and landscape of the rail corridor. Because of these uses, the corridor has long been considered an eyesore and a deterrent to any new development along the eastern edge of Wichita, but it still remains a vital freight rail link connecting Wichita's agricultural and aviation industries to both coasts of the United States. It's these industries that have shaped the landscape of the corridor and given rise to the tall white grain silos that line the corridor and dominate the skyline that we considered beautiful. This corridor also serves as a primary rail route for trains hauling newly assembled Boeing aircrah fuselages from initial assembly plants in Wichita to final assembly plants in Seattle. The juxtaposition of old and new technologies creates a rich history and distinct character that we used to develop the design solution for the newly elevated rail line.

 

DANGEROUS OBSTACLES TO GROWTH

Recent revitalization trends in the historic neighborhoods increased need for developable land near the CBD, and the revival of the Old Town Warehouse District next to the rail line directed the City's attention toward future residential and commercial growth for this area. The biggest obstacles to this growth are the three existing railroad bridges and six at-grade railroad crossings that will be removed as part of the project. The old bridges are dark underneath and frightening to pedestrians, and the at-grade crossings are dangerous for pedestrians and motorists because numerous fast freight trains use the rail daily. An additional challenge to this revitalization is the new elevated corridor itself. The finished structure would stand twenty-six feet above the streets below creating a three mile wall and a potentially greater divide between the CBD and the eastern side of Wichita.

 

A NEW DIRECTION

The City of Wichita requested that we take the design lead for the new corridor. Their requirements included a design that would allow the structure to complement the surrounding community as well as de-emphasize the tall vertical retaining walls necessary for three miles of elevated track. Above all it was requested that the corridor be "green" and serve as an amenity to the Old Town Warehouse District and adjacent neighborhoods.

 

FINDING AN ARTIST

We were first tasked with identifying an artist to join the design team. After this relationship was established our job was to direct the engineering design team and create a solution that would raise the corridor twenty six feet above the ground and provide new cast-in-place concrete railroad bridges over five city streets. This would allow free movement of vehicles and pedestrians under the railroad tracks while maintaining rail traffic during construction. The city also requested that we lead all public presentations to the fifteen-member Wichita Design Council, the Wichita Historic Board, and the Wichita City Council.

 

THE SOLUTION: "A LIVING WALL"

We initiated a comprehensive site analysis of the rail corridor that included extensive site photography, visual analysis, and research of the rail line's history. Once the analysis was completed, we presented an exciting and unpredictable solution. To provide the softened green structure desired by the city we developed a "living wall" approach. By casting holes in the pre-engineered retaining wall system at virtually no cost increase, the plant material was allowed to grow from within - giving the appearance desired by the city. We determined that stepped walls containing plant material would be too predictable and inappropriate for use so close to the CBD, and the corridor width requirements prevented this as a viable design solution. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) boxes were used to contain the soil needed for plants to thrive. We chose to use bases from pre-engineered dog houses made of HDPE as the soil containers for the plants embedded in the wall. HDPE pipe eliminated the risk of irrigation line ruptures which would compromise the structural integrity of the wall system. The plant boxes and irrigation system would be installed prior to back-filling the superstructure. At the top of the wall, a pre-cast concrete parapet would serve as an additional planter, sound abatement mechanism, and a safety rail for railroad personnel.

 

THE BRIDGES ECHO SILO ARCHITECTURE

We designed the railroad bridges to be cast-in-place white concrete echoing the smooth white cylinders of the giant grain silos that define the corridor. They also reflected the cylindrical character of the airplane fuselages that are hauled along the line almost daily. The white color of the bridges provided a contrast to the living green wall and the red brick of the Old Town District. Out of the cylindrical bridge abutments grew tall native grasses that mimic the grain crops throughout Kansas, pay respect to the native prairie landscape, and acknowledge the historic use of silos for grain storage. A white steel tubular planter with cascading plants would span the street at each bridge crossing and serve as a gateway in and out of the CBD. Tall steel bollards with cobalt blue industrial light fixtures would line the top of the bridges and serve as a guard rail for railroad personnel. The blue color offers an expression of airport taxi-way lights and provides a reminder of Wichita's aviation industry.

 

NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS

Steel columns salvaged from bridge demolition could be incorporated as trellises or sculptural elements in neighborhood parks along the rail line. These objects of Wichita's industrial history would serve as a reminder of the corridor's past and provide a quiet respite for future generations.

 

SAFE PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIONS

Red brick pedestrian walks under the bridges would connect the CBD to the Old Town District and the east side of Wichita and pay homage to the pedestrian surface treatments historically used in the city. Pedestrian and vehicular traffic were safely separated by white steel cylinders that also reflect the industrial nature of the corridor. The recessed points between the cylinders and the fluted walls under the bridges would receive flush- mounted, in-ground lighting that illuminates the space for safe pedestrian crossing. The lighting outside the abutment walls would be tinted to provide a sense of drama and excitement at night and serve as a means of way-finding along the corridor.

 

Our innovative approach and unconventional techniques have allowed the City to achieve its goals and stay within budget producing a design that combines Wichita's history, its present, and future. Bid letting is scheduled for May 2004.