UC Berkeley Diridon Station San Jose studio, Spring 2019
Taught by John Ellis
San Jose’s Diridon Station will become a major transit hub with the advent of BART, High Speed Rail together with the existing Caltrain, ACE and Capitol Corridor services.
The studio explored the potential for high density mixed use development on the brownfield sites adjacent to the station as a way to reconnect the area with Downtown San Jose..
Aerial view of Diridon Station, San Jose looking towards Downtown. The site will become a major transit hub with the advent of the extension of BART and the eventual arrival of California High Speed Rail from San Francisco to Los Angeles via the Central Valley.
Transit Option 1 would have High Speed Rail at grade using the existing station. The new BART station will be located under Santa Clara Street. A new aerial tramway to San Jose Airport is shown together with the light rail line connecting to Downtown.
Transit Option 2 would have High Speed Rail in an elevated condition above the existing Caltrain tracks.
Transit Option 3 would have High Speed Rail in a tunnel under the BART station to allow for a higher speed alignment through the site.
Team 1 proposed a street and block pattern focused on connecting the station with Downtown San Jose by extending San Carlos Street to the station.
Team 2 proposed to eliminate Highway 87 that currently severs the connection with Downtown San Jose and replace it with a multi-way boulevard.
Team 3 was the most ambitious proposing to remove the Highway 87 freeway and replacing it with a multi-way boulevard thereby reuniting the Diridon area with Downtown.
Team 1 proposed a grand public plaza at the station with a formal pair of towers marking the site's civic importance. They also proposed extending the Santa Clara axis to align with the station, coupled with a matching avenue to the south creating a tripartite configuration.
View from the west facing towards downtown San Jose.
Team 2 showing the new elevated High Speed Rail station and the proposed mixed-use development to the east.
Team 2 proposed new development on brownfield parcels to the north.
Team 3 shows the new linear park along the Guadalupe River and the multiway boulevard in place of the Highway 87 Freeway.
Their plan proposed a series of new mixed-use neighborhoods on either side of the river, extending north towards the airport.
Project land uses and a site model.
End of the semester. Team 3 built a model of their design.
Harrison Fraker reviews their design.