Houston Northern Intermodal Facility
Houston, TX
EE&K was selected to design a new $300 million intermodal transit center, to be located north of the University of Houston-Downtown and Interstate 10. The center is destined to become the main hub for many of the services offered by Houston’s Metro, serving as the starting and ending point for bus routes, rail lines, bus rapid-transit lines and commuter rail. The ultimate goal is to take as many cars off the road as possible, creating a regional ripple effect that will enhance Houston’s transit situation.
EE&K has already completed a conceptual framework for the new facility, which will help the auto-dependant city to encourage commuters to use the mass transit options available. Roughly 87.8% of the city’s workforce drives to work every day, putting 739,000 cars on the road during rush hour.
The new transit center also is intended to attract new growth and activity, helping to transform the broader neighborhood into a thriving urban district. The commuter rails and the LRT will make the area accessible from all parts of the city and many of the improvements planned—including pedestrian friendly sidewalks, a park along the White Oak Bayou and a new market — will infuse new life and vitality into the area.
The redevelopment of the industrial area around the proposed Intermodal Station of Houston, just north of the Downtown, envisions a vibrant, mixed-use and walkable community seamlessly built around the Station. A variety of public spaces and amenities are designed to blend transportation, retail with housing, recreational and cultural activities. This new transit-oriented neighborhood along the bayou will incorporate restaurants and shops with new residences above, a hotel, cultural attractions, as well as acres of parks and open space. Situated along the Buffalo Bayou, this area enjoys a central location, a short distance from the Downtown and the sites of Houston renewed connections to northern communities, both by road and transit, and by a network of public spaces leading up to the bayou.
Design Principles
Existing Main Street environment extended to link the northern neighborhoods
Light Rail stops at a grand hall, providing direct access to other transit modes
Transit investments leveraged to create a new walkable, compact and mixed use district
Joint development designed to seamlessly integrate transit modes
A world-class Intermodal Station: Superb and easy transit connects
The station drop-offs designed as premier addresses
A new civic landmark of Houston: Station as Destination
Great roof: A new city icon visible from distance
New neighborhood access to the Bayou through the Station, opening a great view of the Downtown
