TCAT City Center Project
Ithaca, New York
Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit
Winner of 2008 AIA Rochester Design Excellence
Award
Winner of 2007 Ithaca Pride of Ownership Award
A true example of 'Design-by-Consensus', the Seneca Street Bus
Shelter for Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) was developed
from the input of multiple governmental agencies, advocacy groups,
business associations and the public. The result is a regional
landmark and transportation hub, equipped with the latest
technology, that serves the most trafficked section of Ithaca and
Tompkins County.
The primary design feature of the shelter is a zinc-clad roof
that undulates and weaves itself into the existing parking garage.
The roof's gentle curves soften the massive concrete garage,
provide human scale at the street level, and offer protection from
the elements. The canopy projects southward to provide shade in the
summer and allow the sun to warm the shelter in the winter. The
wave-like design was influenced by the surrounding rolling hills of
the Finger Lakes as well as the dynamic motion of transit. The
aesthetic contributes to the existing context of eclectic
architecture and eclectic culture that this college town
resonates.
The shelter's transparency provides visibility, safety and
natural light. The architecture gives opportunity to a variety of
waiting options, inside and outside, that encourage users to
re-position themselves and adjust to changing weather
conditions.