Proposed Platform: The Michigan Central Station not only serves as a hub for transportation but a means for thermal comfort. The Michigan Central Station uses strategies to reduce urban heat as it relates to people's outdoor thermal comfort and the quality of comfort when people move place to place. These strategies include direct transportation, cool structures, and enhanced vegetation. Solar panel shelters are implemented, providing a sense of comfort that serves a multi-purpose of shade and providing a power source for people. In addition, the rail tracks are now a greenway which adds empathize of reducing urban heat and the area is well shaded as you walk through the platform to your destination.
Michigan State University student Rayshaun L. Landrum submitted this idea on a way to combat the Urban Heat Island Effect using transit and park design in Detroit.
Existing Platform: Michigan Central Station is known for its cultural landmark of being once a temple for transportation serving the automobile industry, military troops, and railroad employees. This station pretty much served everyone in Detroit as well as outer cities. As shown the platform has a lot of hardscape surfaces with cracks and no shading nor remains of seating.
Existing Park: The park was the grand entryway to the station and was known as a historical park to the public in southwest Downtown Detroit. In addition, it was a great place for those who were coming in out of the Michigan Central Station or just passing by.
Proposed Park part 1: The design is a response to all the hardscape surfaces that were abandoned. Improvements start in the vegetation and morph into a place that people stay to enjoy. The inflatable blossom flower sculpture provides shade in a creative way as you sit underneath. In the center of the park, there's a lighting sculpture that makes itself visible and reveals written historical moments embedded in steel material.
Proposed Park part 2: The proposed design still functions as a park with plenty of open space surrounding the station for recreation and relaxation. The walks remain in the same orientation with additions sidewalks and enhance green space with raised pre-cast concrete beds for activities.
