"I was one man and I tackled a big railroad. I did the best I could."
-O. Winston Link, American Photographer
South Hartwell Railroad Redevelopment
Site Plan
The goal of this project is to use existing railroad infrastructure to revitalize downtown Hartwell and link it to the rest of Georgia and the greater Southeast. The design aims to embrace contemporary and cutting edge technologies while preserving the historical assets of the surrounding area, combining the two characteristics into an exciting new opportunity for the city of Hartwell, its residents and visitors from all over.
Located at the end of the Hartwell rail spur is a collection of buildings - a train depot, loading platform, warehouses, and other industrial ruins - once used by the rail company and affiliated businesses. These buildings will be converted into various public amenities such as a history museum and special events pavilion. Vacant property will be repurposed as a combination of commercial shops and residential apartments. Visitors to the city via train will pass through a collection of natural and man-made interest points, offering a glimpse into the history and landscapes of the Southern US.
NOTE: This is only a portion of my senior project. To view it in its entirety, click here.
Elevation View
Regional Context
The Georgia Rail Passenger Program (GRPP) is a set of plans, as yet unbuilt, for intercity and commuter rail in the metro Atlanta region. It would extend the current service of Atlanta's existing commuter train, the Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) out to such surrounding cities as Macon, Gainesville and Athens.
The proposed line extending from Atlanta to Athens (known as the "Brain Train") would link the University of Georgia, Emory University, Georgia Tech and several other campuses.
Existing Conditions / Visual Inventory
The most notable portion of the site includes a defunct set of railroad tracks that run through the center of the site. Two rail cars - a passenger coach and a caboose - sit on a section of track next to an overgrown roundtable, once used as a means of reorienting locomotives and rail cars at the end of the line.
Site Inventory and Analysis
In order to understand the site and make informed design decisions, it is first necessary to take stock of existing conditions, opportunities and constraints, and the surrounding context. Different information is best displayed using different methods. The exploded axon (bottom left, center, right) is especially useful in conveying complex layers of data.