In the heart of the Davies industrial area near 75 Street and Wagner Road, the sleek and modern-looking Davies Station stands three stories tall.
This new transit centre on the Valley Southeast LRT line is much more than just a building for the LRT platform. The all-encompassing transit hub features a “kiss n’ ride” area for easy passenger drop-off and pick-up, spacious bus bays with large glass shelters, and accessibility features for all transit riders.
Let’s dive into the design.
The big question is: why is Davies the only elevated station along the line? The Valley Line tracks are elevated over the CP and CN rail that run perpendicular to the LRT tracks north and south of the station.
Did you know freight trains have priority over all other modes of transport? To ensure Valley Line trains don’t have to stop and wait for the freight trains to move through the area, the tracks and station needed to be elevated. As an added bonus, elevating the tracks in this area prevents motorists from waiting at an additional at-grade track crossing.
The station is more than just an LRT stop; it’s a major connection within Edmonton’s transit network. Featuring 15 bus bays in a circle around the base of the station, there are plenty of glass shelters for people to stay out of the elements while waiting for the bus.
Moving further out, the station features a dedicated “kiss n’ ride” area where passengers can be dropped off and picked up easily. For those who prefer to drive and then catch the bus or train, there are 1,300 parking stalls around the station. The bus transit centre and “park n’ ride” portion opened to the public on September 4, 2022.
Now let’s head inside and take a look.
Unique space
For riders entering Davies Station through the main building, their first stop on the way to the LRT platform is the mezzanine level. This level includes additional Arc ticket vending machines and a few benches for people waiting before heading to the platform above. An elevator, escalator and stairs ensure the platform is accessible to all transit riders.
Designing this unique space was a labour of love for Cathryn Chopko Beck. She’s the Sustainable Urban Integration (SUI) Lead for TransED’s Design Team. “We designed Davies Station to enhance and amplify the user experience through thoughtful features including the use of natural light, textures and finishes, public art glass, and extensive glazing to enable the celebration of the spectacular views of the City.”
Transit users travelling north will be able to experience views of the downtown in a different way as the light changes from day to night and as the seasons change.
‘A beacon of light’
When standing on the LRT platform, a breeze from the open-ended tunnel is accompanied by a picturesque view of downtown Edmonton. The glass walls are infused with public art, allowing riders to admire both the installations on the walls and the surrounding landscape. Fun fact: it took nearly two weeks to install the art glass shipped from Germany.
The call for artists to create public art along the Valley Line received 260 submissions from individual artists, organizations and collectives. Fourteen were selected, including Fluid Landscape, an art glass project by artist Shan Shan Sheng.
“Fluid Landscape will become an instant icon, a beacon of light in the urban landscape, offering a blend of colour, nature, as a distinctive overlay and frame to the changing seasons of Edmonton, as seen from the transit station,” Sheng said in an interview with the Edmonton Arts Council.
Looking upwards, there is a beautiful structural roof comprising over 15,000 individual pieces of timber, and at night, the lighting provides a welcoming glow to patrons.
Sustainable design
In addition to its eye-catching public art, Davies Station has several unique sustainable design elements.
The curved roof was designed to capture rainwater which is then used to water the planters at the base of the station columns.
The parking lot has dedicated dry ponds to capture rainfall and direct runoff away from the sidewalks and roadways.
Landscaping, including trees, shrubs and grasses, dot the area around the station.
To provide a safe growing environment for the roots of the new trees, TransEd installed soil cells. These devices support healthy tree roots and enable the trees to grow until they reach maturity.
Read more about how soil cells have been used in other projects around the city.
Editor’s note: the pic at the top of the post shows Davies Station with downtown Edmonton in the background. Photo credit: Scott Bruck/AECOM.