Downtown San Rafael Bus Station

Posted on May 14th, 2008 by RCCo
Architecture, RCCo Projects |

Located in a redevelopment district at the edge of San Rafael’s downtown, the bus station occupies one city block. The station designer, Robin Chiang who was responsible for 100% of the station, combined the city’s requirement for a historical appearance and the owner’s (Golden Gate Bridge District) desire for hi-tech by recalling the steel structures of the Industrial Revolution era. The station’s canopies are made of large scale steel columns and beams visually tempered with small scale trusswork, concrete column wrappers, and cat- faced gutters. Corners of the site are punctuated by covered pavilions of steel wide flanges and etched glass.

The project does not dominate its neighborhood and relates well to the architecture of the surrounding commercial buildings. It was completed in 1992 and has been secure and relatively easy to maintain. The press joked about the cat-faced gutters, but the neighbors pointed out that the station has not had pigeon problems. The project cost $2.1 million and was completed within budget and on time.

Winner: American Institute of Architects Merit Award