On November 15th, Norfolk officials presented their design for The Tide’s light rail platforms to the Downtown Norfolk Council (DNC).

One of the City's ideas for the MacArthur Center Station.

Included in this presentation was the City’s vision for MacArthur Center Station located on the site of the former Kirn Memorial Library. Two key points were made which caught our attention.

(1) City and HRT officials involved with the design took the stance that “these are glorified bus stops, not buildings,” and stated that “with stations all across the United States, these are not meant to be “buildings” that stand alone architecturally.”

(2)  While the light rail stops were technically designed by a local architectural firm, Norfolk largely followed the advice of Urban Design Associates (UDA), the City’s urban design consultants, and largely insisted that the downtown standards book be adhered to rather rigidly.

A successful mass transit system is critical to the growth and vitality of Norfolk, and the place making qualities of The Tide’s platforms and transit stations are inherent in their eventual status as civic, commercial, recreational, and cultural crossroads. They are not accessory structures but are extensions of the city that surrounds them, bringing with them immense opportunities to promote a sense of place and community. They are creators of urban identity and civic character, a source of beauty, excitement, inspiration and fun.

They shape our urban fabric, provide the scenery for our daily lives and affect the way we live, feel, and interact.

Grand Central Station in NYC. Photo | David Iliff

Union Station is the most visited destination in Washington, DC, with over 25 million visitors a year. There are 750,000 people in New York City who pass through Grand Central Station daily. The Paris Metro serves a huge population but its stations are small in scale, iconic, and easily recognizable as a symbol of Paris. I ask, Do Washingtonians think of Union Station as a glorified bus stop or do New Yorkers view Grand Central Station as a structure without architectural significance?

The downtown standards book, influenced largely by UDA, serves to strengthen the architectural qualities of Norfolk. But the standards book is one firm’s perspective among a variety of different styles and approaches. We should embrace the architectural character of Norfolk without being parochial and backward looking. Rather than imitate, we should relate to the design of a neighborhood or area while conveying the reality of today.

A city design aesthetic with too much cohesion reads like Disneyland rather than a thriving urban center. Norfolk’s architecture has become too monochromatic partly because of strict adherence to the standards book. The same basic forms, shapes, and colors are recycled in order to achieve architectural consistency. Richness in the fabric of a city comes through varied perspectives and approaches as found in larger cities where modern and traditional architecture blend seamlessly.

MacArthur Center Station is an opportunity to invigorate Norfolk’s urban core and should serve as an upbeat force to our urban streetscape. It is an opportunity for riders of The Tide to sit up, take notice, and know they’ve arrived in Norfolk – as it will ultimately establish the expectation and leave lasting impressions of our downtown. Keep in mind, Norfolk’s own 2020 Plan projects MacArthur Center Station to “become the hub of Downtown.”

Another of the City's rendering.

If we wish to foster a vibrant, spirited downtown, enhance economic development efforts and promote Norfolk’s unique character, we must fundamentally alter our attitudes about our built environment. We must seek a vision and design for MacArthur Center Station which is good, rather than merely good enough. We must think creatively about our transit stations, how they are designed, and how better design quality can be achieved.

Norfolk should sponsor a design competition where local architects, urban planners, artists, and other professionals can submit their vision for MacArthur Center Station. Use the competition as a framework to create a collaborative, inclusive environment while exploring different perspectives and ideas. Allow our local talented professionals an opportunity to take part in such an exciting design project in our city. A panel of city leaders, civic representatives, and industry professionals could be formed to facilitate and judge the competition.

We must reconsider the design and long-term vision for the MacArthur Center Station.

The current design does little to rouse the imagination and fails to inspire. It is out of scale with its surroundings and does not convey the forward-thinking, progressive ethos of alternative transport. Norfolk has waited 20 years for The Tide, but just having it is not enough. We owe it to the success of light rail, downtown residents, and the City itself to make sure we get it right.

If you want to help, click here to find a copy of the letter we suggest you send to your city council member and other relevant municipal officers. Their contact information is here.