WSU Library Road Planning, Pullman WA, 2009
Phase 1 2003
Phase 2 2005
Phase 3 2008
Library Road is a transformation of an existing vehicular road into a pedestrian walkway in the heart of the WSU campus in Pullman, Washington. The development of our thinking has been influenced by three existing conditions - topography, buildings and pedestrian traffic patterns. The change in grade from College to Terrell Mall to Wilmer is significant enough to suggest that the ground plane reads vertically and horizontally. The buildings' non-aligned relationship to Library Road and to each other establishes a space that expands and contracts. The primary pedestrian activity pattern moves north/south and buildings that have entrances facing the existing road or on the side of buildings indicates a secondary pedestrian activity moving east/west. We have also been influenced by the extraordinary landscape surrounding the University. Specifically how man has marked the earth in the patterns of the nearby fields. It is our goal to make a place unique to WSU.
wpa's concept acknowledges the entire dimension of the space from building edge to building edge, not just the center as does the current street and sidewalk configuration. It collages the north/south circulation for pedestrians and service/handicapped vehicles as a layer within the space, therefore the road/pathway does not dominate. The ground plane pattern of light and dark bands of granite and concrete pavers are used to transform the street to that of a pedestrian walkway. In addition to the hardscape design, wpa has also designed street furniture (benches, trash receptacles, bus shelters) and signage.
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