The University of Louisville has opened what might be the nicest bus station in the city. Tucked under a parking garage on Floyd Street on the edge of their Belknap Campus, the metal and glass station offers a climate controlled environment for students waiting for the bus. Inside, several metal benches, a large colorful mural, and vending machines provide refuge in the heat of summer and cold of winter.
A mural covering the entire back wall of the station depicts a large Cardinal-red bus surrounded by familiar campus sights and colorful renditions of the Cardinal logo. Dominating the simple architectural design is a radiused edge. The station was designed by Arrasmith, Judd, Rapp, Chovan of West Main Street and blends with the existing design of the parking garage.
The architecture firm is no stranger to bus station design. Beginning in the 1920s, AJRC, led by the founding William S. Arrasmith, helped to usher in a “Streamline Modern” style nationwide with signature Greyhound bus stations in many cities. One of the first and architecturally most important of these Art-Deco stations was built in Louisville on Fifth and Broadway. Long demolished for a surface level parking lot, the station featured blue metal panels and a similar radiused corner. Check out a few photos of the station at Louisville Art Deco.
It’s great to see the University of Louisville stepping up and promoting alternative transportation. A few days ago, I profiled a special crosswalk that responds to the needs of pedestrians which is located only a couple dozen feet away. Eastern Parkway running through the Belknap Campus is also undergoing a road diet that will reduce the number of traffic lanes and provide space for bikes. Hopefully this marks just the beginning of positive things coming from the University.
The vandalism countdown clock is ticking…
I like the arc, so that you can get a full view of the street and see your bus approaching in plenty of time. The finished seating should face that way, and not be at right angles to the street … though I’d also like a view of the door, to better ooogle my fellow passengers … decisions decisions.