KGPdesign studio

At the cusp of a livable cities movement, the Union Station Bicycle Transit Center is an obvious catalyst that promotes bicycle use and alternative transportation options by providing secure parking, rental, and retail service. At the doorstep of Washington's central transportation hub, Union Station, its sleek form reflects the technology of its contents while complementing its eminent Beaux Arts neighbors. Arched steel tubes with an energy-efficient "skin" optimize transparency in this sensitive historical context by echoing a bicycle wheel's elegance and efficiency.

Sited between two turn-of-the-century landmarks by Daniel Burnham, Union Station, and the National Capitol Post Office, the facility is available daily to thousands of tourists, commuters, and neighbors. Union Station, circa 1907, exemplifies a heroic strain of the American Beaux-Arts tradition that emerged after the 1893 Columbian Exposition. Grand iconic vaulted ceilings recalling Roman triumphal arches and baths suggest Union Station represents an "imperial transportation palace" as conceived by its renowned architect, Daniel H. Burnham. The apparent location adjacent to the west portico creates a fitting backdrop for the Bicycle Transit Center. Sustainable goals shape and evolve our attitudes toward transportation.